Celebration: February 18
Divnogorskaya-Sicilian icon of the Mother of God is known by its name, derived from two places — the Divnogorsky Monastery in the Voronezh province and the island of Sicily. This icon was brought from Sicily by two pious monks, Xenophon and Joasaph. It is believed that they were of Greek origin and settled in a monastery located in a picturesque area near the Don River, near the Quiet Pine River, near the mountain formations called the Divy or Wonderful Mountains because of their amazing shape of chalk pillars. Xenophon and Joasaph founded a monastery and, according to legend, cut down the first church in the chalk pillar, where they placed an icon of the Mother of God brought from Sicily. In this place, they also found their eternal peace and rest. On the Sicilian (Divnogorsk) icon of the Mother of God is an image of the Blessed Virgin sitting on clouds. In her hands is a white blooming lily, and on her lap sits the baby Jesus. A baby holds a flower (lily) and gives a blessing. Around the image of the Virgin are eight angels, two of which are depicted in a kneeling position and with their hands raised to the sky. Above the head of the Virgin is the image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Reverence for the miraculous icon began in 1831, when cholera was raging. An elderly resident of Korotoyak, not far from the monastery, was visited by the Blessed Virgin in a dream and ordered to bring an icon of the Mother of God and perform a prayer service in front of her. The icon was brought to Korotoyak, and after the prayer, the cholera left. Also, thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God, Korotoyak and Ostrogozhsk were saved from cholera in 1847 and 1848 after the procession with the miraculous icon. According to legend, the day of celebration of the icon was established by the founders of the monastery, Xenophon and Joasaph, and falls on February 5.
