This holy icon belonged to St Cyril of White Lake, and he kept it in his cell. St Cyril was living at the Simonov Monastery, but his soul yearned for solitude, and he asked the Mother of God to show him a place conducive for salvation. One night he was reading an Akathist in his cell before the Hodigitria icon of the Mother of God, and had just reached the eighth Kontakion, “Seeing the strange Nativity, let us become strangers to the world and transport our minds to heaven.” Then he heard a voice say, “Go to White Lake (Belozersk), where I have prepared a place for you.” He left the Simonov Monastery and at the desolate and sparsely populated White Lake, he found the place which he had seen in the vision. St Cyril and his companion St Therapon of White Lake and Mozhaisk (May 27), set up a cross and dug a cell in the ground near Mount Myaura at Siversk Lake.
The White Lake Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos resembles the Vladimir Icon (May 21, June 23, August 26) in appearance. It was originally in the cell of St Cyril of White Lake (June 9), who often prayed before it.
One day, while chanting the Akathist before this icon, the Mother of God appeared to St Cyril and told him to establish a monastery on White Lake. The Archangels Michael and Gabriel are seen on either side of the Virgin’s head, and various saints are depicted around the border of the icon. The White Lake Icon is also commemorated on June 8.
One day, while chanting the Akathist before this icon, the Mother of God appeared to St Cyril and told him to establish a monastery on White Lake. The Archangels Michael and Gabriel are seen on either side of the Virgin’s head, and various saints are depicted around the border of the icon. The White Lake Icon is also commemorated on June 8.
