The Blind Paralytic, a Miracle of the Panagia on Akathist Saturday
- The Orthodox Ethos Team
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
From Appearances and Miracles of the Virgin Mary:
Once, the monk Anthimus of Dionysiou Monastery visited a newly tonsured monk, who had fallen ill, in the monastery’s hospital. To console him, he recounted a personal experience:
My brother, set your hope in our Panagia, the great physician and protectress of monks. Listen to an adventure of mine, so you may marvel at her mighty protection.
When I was your age, twenty-five years old and indeed newly tonsured, I fell gravely ill. I became like a corpse for a long time. I did not know what illness it was—rheumatism or something else—but I felt great weakness throughout my body. To walk, I used crutches. As if that weren’t enough, my eyes also dimmed, and I could barely see in front of me.
Two doctors came and examined me. But they couldn’t help me with anything. Moreover, as time passed, my condition worsened. Day and night I wept and said: “My Christ, what has befallen me! Am I apparently the most sinful? A young monk, to find myself blind and paralyzed in the hospital, being served by the elders? Better that I die!”
Many brothers advised me to go out into the world, to be seen by better doctors. However, one brother, very pious and venerable, who loved me particularly, approached me and said, “Listen, my child. As you know, we have here in our monastery an old and historic icon, but above all miraculous, the Panagia of the Akathist Hymn. It is a gift from Emperor Alexios III Komnenos to the founder of our monastery. On its silver lining and the ancient wood, inscriptions survive, testifying that this was the icon which Patriarch Sergius carried around the walls of Constantinople and repelled the Persians and Avars in 626. And before this same icon, they subsequently chanted the Akathist Hymn (Salutations) for the first time, thanking the Theotokos for their salvation. Tradition relates that it is one of the seventy icons painted by the Evangelist Luke. Many times, indeed, it has gushed forth fragrant myrrh. Go, therefore, kneel before it and pray with fervent faith and tears, especially now that her feast day approaches. And she, being a compassionate Mother, will have mercy on you too, the suffering one.”
These words gave me courage. They strengthened my faith, and I turned with all my soul to the Panagia, begging her with fervent tears.
When her feast day [of the Akathist Hymn] arrived, the fifth Saturday of Great Lent, I went to the church the evening before and kept vigil. I prayed much before her icon. Since I was tired, sleep overtook me right there.
And then, what was this! I saw the Panagia dressed all in gold, within a most brilliant light, shining with radiance and glory. She stood two cubits high from the ground and looked at me with a serene gaze. Then she opened her honey-sweet mouth and said to me, “Why are you weeping, my child Anthimus?”
“How can I not weep, my Panagia? Don’t you see my wretched state, how I have ended up?”
“Do not weep, but attend to your salvation.”
She told me this, blessed me, and ascended.
Immediately I awoke. I rubbed my eyes and saw the oil lamps lit. I summoned the courage to stand up, and found that I walked with ease. Immediately I understood! The Panagia had performed her miracle and had completely healed me. Oh, what joy I felt! How many tears of thanksgiving I shed! How many hymns I sang cannot be described!
Soon the sacristan opened the church. He saw me walking and could not believe his eyes. One by one, all the fathers approached me. And when they saw me healthy, they glorified the Lord and His all-pure Mother from the depths of their souls for her infinite love.
SOURCE:
Holy Monastery of the Paraclete, Appearances and Miracles of the Virgin Mary, 2nd edition, translated and edited by Uncut Mountain Press (Florence, AZ: Uncut Mountain Press, 2025), pp. 118-123.