The Deesis of Gennadios

This portable votive icon, which dates after 1619, was offered by the hegumen of the Monastery of Panagia Chozoviotissa on Amorgos, after he was rescued from a shipwreck between the islets of Kinaros and Levitha.

In the upper part, set against the gold background, is the representation of a three-figure Deesis. In the centre is depicted the Theotokos in the type of the Platytera (Our Lady of the Sign) with Christ before her. To the left of the central figure of the Virgin, is shown in bust length Saint George Balsamites praying, the local saint who protects seafarers, to whom the metochion (dependency) of the Chozoviotissa Monastery on Amorgos is dedicated, whereas to her right is pictured the bust of the island’s patroness Saint Paraskevi praying.

The largest part of the icon is occupied, according to the dedicatory inscription at its bottom, by the scene of Gennadios’s shipwreck. In the stormy sea, between the islets of Kinaros and Levitha, floats a fishing boat with half of its sails open. Seven travellers are onboard. The bareheaded hegumen of the Monastery of Amorgos, Gennadios, is shown standing, praying for their rescue. The rest of the male figures, two clerics and two laymen, possibly the crew, struggle with the sails and handling of the boat. Two women also travel, depicted lying down.

The icon combines traditional models of byzantine icons in the representation of the Deesis and modern elements in the shipwreck scene, presenting the Virgin Mary as protector of mariners.

+ ΔEHCIC ΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΛΟΥ ΤΟΥ Θ(ΕΟ)Υ ΓΕΝΑΔΙΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ Κ(ΑΙ) ΚΑΘΗΓΟΥΜΈΝΟΥ ΜΟΝΗC  ΑΜΟΡΓΟΥ ΟΠΟΥ ΕΡΧΕΤΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΠΑΤΙΝΟΝ Κ(ΑΙ) ΠΛAKOCEN ΤΗ ΦΟΥΡΤΟΥΝΗ ΑΝΑΜΕΣΑ ΤΟ ΚΙΝΑPOC Κ(ΑΙ) TO ΛEBEΘOC Κ(ΑΙ) EΠIKAΛICΘH ΤΗΝ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑΝ Κ(ΑΙ) ΤΟΝ ΜΕ/ΓΑΝ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΝ Κ(ΑΙ) ΤΗΝ ΑΓΙΑΝ ΠAPACKEYH Κ(ΑΙ) EΓΛYTOCE. ΑΧΙΘ’. ΝΟΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ Θ’.