The Virgin Mary in Holy Icons and Stories
Athanasia Papademetriou
ISBN 978-1-935244-24-0
With A Foreword By
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
And Commendations By
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
and Metropolitan Methodios of Boston
About the Book
This gorgeously-produced hardcover book provides a guide to and deeper understanding of the Virgin Mary, also called the Panagia or Theotokos, and her miracle-working icons through fascinating stories and over 80 full-color icons. The book:
• Provides details from the life of the Virgin Mary and how she was present in the life of her son Jesus Christ.
• Describes the variations of the icons of the Virgin Mary such as the Hodegetria and the Glykophiloussa.
• Presents many well-known miracle-working icons of the Virgin Mary in Greece, Mount Athos, the United States, and around the world.
• Tells compelling and powerful stories and icons that will interest both Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike.
Praise for the Book
“We graciously congratulate Presbytera Athanasia Papademetriou for the publication of The Virgin Mary in Holy Icons and Stories, which is a valuable resource of Marian devotion in the Iconography of the Holy Church, written in English for Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, and we warmly encourage the reader to contemplate on the beauty presented in these Holy Icons, of which Saint John Damascene declares, “Whenever I behold the image of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I cry: ‘O Immaculate Mother of God, pray to your Son and God to have mercy on me…’.” ”
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
“The Virgin Mary in Holy Icons and Stories appears to be the fruit of personal devotion to and deep respect for the Most Holy Theotokos. The book offers an insightful reflection articulating the role and place of the Virgin Mary in the life of the Church, which accompanies the iconographic identity of our vocation as Christians.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
“This is an edifying text that should surely be read by Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians alike. They will better understand the central role that the Virgin Mary played in the salvation of the world. The text contains many beautiful icons depicting the Virgin Mary explaining their meaning and how they are venerated and placed in our churches.”
Metropolitan Methodios of Boston
“I am so pleased to know of such a faithful servant of God, who was moved to create a volume that honors our Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.”
Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta
“The end purpose of the book seeks to engage the heart, mind, and imagination of the reader, leading one to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the holy Theotokos and of her unique role in God’s divine plan for the salvation of the world.”
Rev. Alkiviadis C. Calivas, Th.D., Professor Emeritus of Liturgics, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
“This book will be of interest to all Orthodox Christians but is also accessible to those who are seeking a well-founded and wide-ranging introduction to the Church's extraordinary devotion to the Mother of God in icons.”
V. Rev. Arch. Maximos Constas, Ph.D., Professor of Patristics and Orthodox Spirituality, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
“Presbytera Papademetriou has offered a comprehensive and very accessible introduction to the icons of the Virgin Mary. By focusing her attention on the many places where the Virgin Mary appears in icons, both where she is the central figure, but also where she was present at events in the life of her son, Jesus Christ, we see the interaction of Scripture and Holy Tradition, including Orthodox liturgical life, in its powerful ability to form our phronema as Orthodox Christians. By presenting the many ways the Virgin Mary is depicted, and the many miracle-working icons of her (and there are far more than most of us realize), Presbytera Papademetriou has given us a guide for our spiritual growth.”
V. Rev. Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D., Author of ""The Educating Icon: Teaching Wisdom and Holiness in the Orthodox Way"", and Director, Department of Religious Education, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
About the Author
Presbytera Athanasia Papademetriou is a graduate of Middlesex Community College in Bedford, Massachusetts (AA); Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts (BA); and Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts (Master of Library Science). She is married to Rev. Dr. George C. Papademetriou, a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and a Greek Orthodox priest. She shared in Father George’s ministry in several parishes throughout the United States.
With her MLS degree, and her deep knowledge of both the English and Greek languages, Presbytera Athanasia was uniquely positioned to serve, and did serve for over twenty years, as cataloging librarian/assistant director at the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center at Hellenic College/ Holy Cross in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 2005 Presbytera Athanasia and Father George traveled to Saint Vlash Seminary in Albania where, as professional librarians, they were able to lay the groundwork for computerizing the collection to improve its accessibility, as well as to redesign the space to house the library’s collection.
Presbytera Athanasia has served as President of the Metropolis of Boston Sisterhood of Presbyteres. She has also served as a music teacher in the Junior Choir Program of the Saint Demetrios Church School in Weston, Massachusetts for over fifteen years. She is a member of Philoptochos and is in the Agape Prayer Group. Father George and Presbytera Athanasia are recipients of the Metropolis of Boston Ministry Award for outstanding service to the Greek Orthodox Faith.
Presbytera Athanasia is the author of Presbytera: The Life, Mission, and Service of the Priest’s Wife. She has also written a family biography of her parents.
