TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS OF THE THREE-HANDED ICON: She Holds a Special Place in the Faith of the Serbian People, Here’s How She Got Her Name!

The Serbian Orthodox Church and its faithful today celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Three-Handed Icon (Trojeručica).

According to tradition, the Three-Handed Icon miraculously healed the hand of Saint John of Damascus after it had been cut off by order of the Caliph of Damascus. Saint John of Damascus had fought against the iconoclasts through both his writings and his words, but was falsely accused and unjustly punished.

The Most Holy Theotokos healed him as he prayed in sorrow before her icon. In gratitude for this act of mercy, Saint John added a third hand to her image, from which the icon received the name Three-Handed (Trojeručica).

The greatest miracle performed by the Three-Handed Icon takes place in the souls of the faithful who venerate it.

Her majestic, virginal image, filled with tenderness and solemnity, moves the hearts of devout worshippers, leaving a profound impression upon the pure soul and guiding it toward spiritual renewal.

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Through the presence of her holy icon, the Most Holy Theotokos, as the Most Compassionate Mother, performs the greatest miracle of all—the salvation in Christ of her children. As the Mother of God, she should be prayerfully invoked to ease the pain, hardship, and suffering of all people, especially Orthodox Serbs, the spiritual descendants of Saint Simeon and Saint Sava, all those who have so often paid for their perseverance in the Orthodox faith with tears and blood.

Finally, let us remember the words of one of the hymns dedicated to the Mother of God:

“We all bow before her, praying: Do not forget the bond of kinship, O Mother of God, with all the faithful who honor the holy image of your icon.”

Troparion (Tone 4)

O Mother of God, through your Three-Handed Icon, which reveals the mystery of the Holy Trinity, you have glorified yourself by many miracles. Just as you healed the severed hand of John of Damascus, so also heal our spiritual and bodily infirmities, and deliver us from every affliction, that we may cry out to you: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, help us through your Three-Handed Icon.