Panagia Soumela
Donation protected
Panagia Soumela
The Athenian - The icon of the Virgin Mary of Soumela, painted by the Evangelist Lukas, was placed initially in a monastery near the Acropolis of Athens and named Panagia the Athenian. Later, the icon was placed in a temple built in Thiva, one hour (92 km) northwest of Athens to honor her grace. This temple was also named Panagia the Athenian.
The Soumela - In about 380 A.D. the icon miraculously “flew” to mountain Mela in Trapezounta (Trebizond) in Pontos, Asia Minor. After a dream, the two monks Varnavas and Sofronios began a long journey from Athens to find the icon at mountain Mela. Going through Meteora, Agion Oros (Holy Mountain) at the Athos peninsula, Maronia in Thrace, they continued on to Constantinople (Istanbul), and finally arrived at Trapezounta of Pontos at a village called Couspidi. There they were informed about the presence of mountain Mela where they discovered miraculously the icon in a cave one hour (42 km) south of Trapezounta. The two monks decided to build a monastery and the first temple was inaugurated with many festivities in 386 A.D. The monastery earned great respect and reputation throughout the entire Orthodox world until the tragedy of Greek Hellenism in 1922. In 1924, the monastery was ruined completely by the Turks.
The Vermian - Before the monks of the monastery left Pontos, they buried the icon along with some rare heirlooms in the nearby monastery of Saint Varvara (Barbara). In 1931, the monk Amvrosios Soumeliotis brought the icon to Greece and it remained in the Benakis Museum of Athens until 1952 when Dr. Philon Ktenidis initiated the foundation of a new monastery on the top of the Vermion Mountain, one hour (92 km) west from the city of Thessalonica in Macedonia, Greece. Since that time, Panagia Soumela continues to offer Her Grace to the thousand of believers who visit Her every year.
The Appalachian - In 1982, the organization "Panagia Soumela Pontion Amerikis" was formed in New York to revive the Holy Shrine of the Holy Mother in the "Pontian Land of the New World". In 2005, the “Holy Institution Panagia Soumela, Inc.” was formed in parallel with the existing organization to: a) achieve an ever wider participation and collaboration among Pontians, b) properly preserve and promote our cultural heritage, our history and Orthodoxy, c) support more efficiently the chapel and to achieve a more efficient usage of the surrounding space, and d) achieve a more devout realization of the annual holy shrine.
On February 9th, 2006, after an unsuccessful attempt to build a chapel on another property owned by our Institution, the purchase of a 3.8-acre property, the “Pontian Land of the New World” was completed. The property is located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in West Milford, New Jersey, one hour (42 miles) northwest from New York City, a divine and fateful parallelism in locations, in a strategic location accommodating all centers of Pontian Hellenism in the USA and Canada. The property has one church, one social hall with office and kitchen, and one four-bedroom single-family house. The church requires major renovation or reconstruction. All other buildings are relatively new, in good condition and ready for immediate use. For the progress and completion of this project, among other legal and technical issues that have to be resolved, we have to face the financial issue as well. We believe that all can help. All of us can contribute if we realize the significance of this historic project. All donations are tax deductible according to IRS 501(c)(3) for non-for-profit organizations. These are historic moments for the Pontian Hellenism of America and they require unity, collaboration, and willingness. All should proudly make a contribution to the best of your abilities in this historic effort. We hope and pray that all of you will join us and generously support this effort.
The Athenian - The icon of the Virgin Mary of Soumela, painted by the Evangelist Lukas, was placed initially in a monastery near the Acropolis of Athens and named Panagia the Athenian. Later, the icon was placed in a temple built in Thiva, one hour (92 km) northwest of Athens to honor her grace. This temple was also named Panagia the Athenian.
The Soumela - In about 380 A.D. the icon miraculously “flew” to mountain Mela in Trapezounta (Trebizond) in Pontos, Asia Minor. After a dream, the two monks Varnavas and Sofronios began a long journey from Athens to find the icon at mountain Mela. Going through Meteora, Agion Oros (Holy Mountain) at the Athos peninsula, Maronia in Thrace, they continued on to Constantinople (Istanbul), and finally arrived at Trapezounta of Pontos at a village called Couspidi. There they were informed about the presence of mountain Mela where they discovered miraculously the icon in a cave one hour (42 km) south of Trapezounta. The two monks decided to build a monastery and the first temple was inaugurated with many festivities in 386 A.D. The monastery earned great respect and reputation throughout the entire Orthodox world until the tragedy of Greek Hellenism in 1922. In 1924, the monastery was ruined completely by the Turks.
The Vermian - Before the monks of the monastery left Pontos, they buried the icon along with some rare heirlooms in the nearby monastery of Saint Varvara (Barbara). In 1931, the monk Amvrosios Soumeliotis brought the icon to Greece and it remained in the Benakis Museum of Athens until 1952 when Dr. Philon Ktenidis initiated the foundation of a new monastery on the top of the Vermion Mountain, one hour (92 km) west from the city of Thessalonica in Macedonia, Greece. Since that time, Panagia Soumela continues to offer Her Grace to the thousand of believers who visit Her every year.
The Appalachian - In 1982, the organization "Panagia Soumela Pontion Amerikis" was formed in New York to revive the Holy Shrine of the Holy Mother in the "Pontian Land of the New World". In 2005, the “Holy Institution Panagia Soumela, Inc.” was formed in parallel with the existing organization to: a) achieve an ever wider participation and collaboration among Pontians, b) properly preserve and promote our cultural heritage, our history and Orthodoxy, c) support more efficiently the chapel and to achieve a more efficient usage of the surrounding space, and d) achieve a more devout realization of the annual holy shrine.
On February 9th, 2006, after an unsuccessful attempt to build a chapel on another property owned by our Institution, the purchase of a 3.8-acre property, the “Pontian Land of the New World” was completed. The property is located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in West Milford, New Jersey, one hour (42 miles) northwest from New York City, a divine and fateful parallelism in locations, in a strategic location accommodating all centers of Pontian Hellenism in the USA and Canada. The property has one church, one social hall with office and kitchen, and one four-bedroom single-family house. The church requires major renovation or reconstruction. All other buildings are relatively new, in good condition and ready for immediate use. For the progress and completion of this project, among other legal and technical issues that have to be resolved, we have to face the financial issue as well. We believe that all can help. All of us can contribute if we realize the significance of this historic project. All donations are tax deductible according to IRS 501(c)(3) for non-for-profit organizations. These are historic moments for the Pontian Hellenism of America and they require unity, collaboration, and willingness. All should proudly make a contribution to the best of your abilities in this historic effort. We hope and pray that all of you will join us and generously support this effort.
Organizer
Haralambos Vasiliadis
Organizer
Bayside, NY
