Mother of God “It is Worthy”

Holy Theotokos “It is Worthy”

On one of the Sundays, the old man who lived not far from Karea went to the monastery for Vespers, and the novice remained in the cell, and at nightfall an unknown monk knocked on his door. During the all-night service, when it was necessary to sing “Fairer than the cherubim …”, both stood in front of the icon of the Mother of God, which was called “The Merciful” and the guest noted that they first sang “It is worthy, as the last time, to praise You, the Mother of God, most blessed and the Immaculate and the Mother of our God … “.

During the singing of this hitherto unheard song, the icon of the Mother of God shone with heavenly light, and the novice wept with emotion. At his request, this strange song, due to the lack of paper, was written on a stone, softened like wax under the hand of a strange singer. Calling himself Gabriel, the traveler became invisible. The icon of the Mother of God, in front of which the song “It is worthy to be” was sung for the first time, was moved to the Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin in the city of Kareia (administrative center of Mount Athos). The plate with the song written on it by the Archangel Gabriel was brought to Constantinople during the patriarchate of St. Nicholas Chrysoverg. Numerous lists from the icon “It is Worthy” (“The Affectionate”) are sacredly revered in Orthodox churches.