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| Kernitsa Monastery in Vytina |
By Father Dionysios Tampakis
There was once a pious farmer near Vytina* who wanted to cut wood for the coming winter. So he went to the Abbess of the Holy Monastery in Kernitsa** and asked her if he had a blessing to cut some wood from the area of the Monastery.
She gave him permission immediately, seeing how poor he was.
That night, however, when the poor farmer had fallen asleep, he saw in full glory the Panagia with unspeakable beauty, giving him the following order:
"You can cut from my trees as the Eldress said, but not from those in front of the Monastery, because its beauty will be spoiled and it is not appropriate."
Notes:
* A mountain village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece.
** Kernitsa Monastery dates to the 12th century, the oldest in Arcadia, and is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos. The monastery was established over a cave where a miraculous icon of the Panagia, the Panagia Kernitsa, was found. Today visitors are welcome at this female monastery, but the Divine Liturgy only takes place at night.