Trojerucica
Encyclopedia
Bogorodica Trojeručica or simply Trojeručica (Three-handed) is a famous wonderworking icon
in the Serb Orthodox monastery of Hilandar
on Mount Athos
, Greece
. It depicts Theotokos (Virgin Mary) with young Jesus
in the hodegetria
position, and is covered with a riza
. It is the most important icon of the Serbian Orthodox Church
. On the back of the icon is the painting of St Nicholas.
to the Caliph
, he was falsely accused of treachery and his hand was cut off. Alternatively this mutilation was by, or at the behest of, the Byzantine
Iconoclast
emperor Leo the Isaurian, who was indeed a great opponent of St John; though as John remained in Islamic Damascus
, the Emperor was unlikely to have been able to reach him himself. Upon praying in front of an icon of the Theotokos his hand was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving, he had a silver replica of his hand fashioned and attached it to the icon. Naïve people were surprised at seeing three hands on the holy icon (two of Theotokos plus one more) and named the icon "three-handed" (Tricherousa).
John Damascene became a monk at Mar Sabbas monastery outside of Jerusalem and gave the icon to the monastic community there. Later the icon was given as a present to St. Sava, who gave it to the Hilandar. Until very recently the icon was formally the abbot of Hilandar, with monks elected to serve as its deputy. This icon has two feast days: and .
Art historians think the style of the icon today is more likely from the 14th century, and it may be a copy or re-painting of an earlier prototype
. Another version brought to Moscow
in 1661 became famous, and resulted in many Russia
n copies.
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
in the Serb Orthodox monastery of Hilandar
Hilandar
Hilandar Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. It was founded in 1198 by the first Serbian Archbishop Saint Sava and his father, Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja of the medieval Serbian principality of Raška...
on Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It depicts Theotokos (Virgin Mary) with young Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in the hodegetria
Hodegetria
A Hodegetria — or Virgin Hodegetria — is an iconographic depiction of the Theotokos holding the Child Jesus at her side while pointing to Him as the source of salvation for mankind...
position, and is covered with a riza
Riza
A riza or oklad , sometimes called a "revetment" in English, is a metal cover protecting an icon. It is usually made of gilt or silvered metal with repoussé work and is pierced to expose elements of the underlying painting. It is sometimes enameled, filigreed, or set with artificial,...
. It is the most important icon of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
. On the back of the icon is the painting of St Nicholas.
History
According to the tradition, the icon was painted by or for St John Damascene and it is associated with his miraculous healing around the year 717. According to tradition, while he was serving as VizierVizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
to the Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, he was falsely accused of treachery and his hand was cut off. Alternatively this mutilation was by, or at the behest of, the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
Iconoclast
Iconoclasm
Iconoclasm is the deliberate destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually with religious or political motives. It is a frequent component of major political or religious changes...
emperor Leo the Isaurian, who was indeed a great opponent of St John; though as John remained in Islamic Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, the Emperor was unlikely to have been able to reach him himself. Upon praying in front of an icon of the Theotokos his hand was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving, he had a silver replica of his hand fashioned and attached it to the icon. Naïve people were surprised at seeing three hands on the holy icon (two of Theotokos plus one more) and named the icon "three-handed" (Tricherousa).
John Damascene became a monk at Mar Sabbas monastery outside of Jerusalem and gave the icon to the monastic community there. Later the icon was given as a present to St. Sava, who gave it to the Hilandar. Until very recently the icon was formally the abbot of Hilandar, with monks elected to serve as its deputy. This icon has two feast days: and .
Art historians think the style of the icon today is more likely from the 14th century, and it may be a copy or re-painting of an earlier prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
. Another version brought to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1661 became famous, and resulted in many Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n copies.