The renewing Abalatskaya icon of the Cabramatta church

[Angela]

I understand that the Cabramatta Church witnessed a miracle of an icon of the Virgin Mary that renewed itself in the 80s. I've been trying to find detailed information of such miracle fo a research to publish in Italian but I have not been very lucky yet. Could anyone direct me to reliable sources?

[Olga]

Hello Angela

From this forum's archive:

http://www.monachos.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-2095.html

The type of icon mentioned is known by various names, including Abalatskaya, Abalakskaya, and Abalat. The icon features a central panel of an icon of the Mother of God of the Sign (the Virgin in orans pose, with Christ Emmanuel over her body, usually surrounded by a circular mandorla which represents the uncreated light and glory of God; in the left border is the figure of St Nicholas of Myra, in the right border is St Mary of Egypt. Here is a version of this icon:

http://www.xxc.ru/orthodox/pastor/znamenie/znamenie3_ab.jpg

[Angela]

thank you Olga, that's very helpful. However there are some differences in the information that one can find on the web... The info you forwarded says that the icon started to renew itself while in China. However the following post
http://www.mcn.org/1/Miracles/iconsarchive.html
says that "Years later, still in its blackened state, it was brought to Australia, and placed in the Intercession of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church, Cabramatta, where it remains. Father Peter, when he came to the church in 1981, remembers that the icon was still in its blackened state, showing no colour at all. Since then, the icon has been gradually renewing itself."
This is why I originally wasn't sure the two stories were about the same icon....
Could you shed some light?

[Irene]

I have venerated that Icon many times. Yes the icon was dark and yes it was gradually renewing. When I first saw it I did not realise that there were small depictions of Saints Nicholas and Mary of Egypt on either side of the icon, in later years these Saints became quite easy to see.

The miracle of the icon was also evident in the blessed copies given to parishioners years ago. Many people have these in various states of renewal. A very pious elderly lady a number of years ago showed me her copy which had renewed to the point that it was not dark at all.

It has been a few years since I have been in Cabramatta Church, I heard that the Icon was sent back to Russia a couple of years ago.

The two articles mentioned are both about one and the same Icon and although it did start renewing in China it was still very dark and hard to see in the 1980s when I first saw it. Later it was much easier to see and had more evidence of colour and brightness.

[Angela]

Thank you Irene! Very helpful.
Does anyone know a contact person / number at the Cabramatta church that I could call to verify whether the icon was sent back and exactly where?

[Irene]

Thank you Irene! Very helpful.
Does anyone know a contact person / number at the Cabramatta church that I could call to verify whether the icon was sent back and exactly where?

From the website Parish Directory (http://www.rocor.org.au/news/?page_id=2)

Protection of the Holy Virgin Church

136 John Street
Cabramatta NSW 2166
AUSTRALIA

Priest Boris Ignatievsky

Phone: 02 4625 7743
International Phone: +61 (2) 4625 7743

Protodeacon Basil Hadarin

Phone: 02 9609 2976
International Phone: +61 (2) 9609 2976

[Angela]

Hello Angela

From this forum's archive:

http://www.monachos.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-2095.html

The type of icon mentioned is known by various names, including Abalatskaya, Abalakskaya, and Abalat. The icon features a central panel of an icon of the Mother of God of the Sign (the Virgin in orans pose, with Christ Emmanuel over her body, usually surrounded by a circular mandorla which represents the uncreated light and glory of God; in the left border is the figure of St Nicholas of Myra, in the right border is St Mary of Egypt. Here is a version of this icon:

http://www.xxc.ru/orthodox/pastor/znamenie/znamenie3_ab.jpg


After looking at the information provided, I am ever more confused about the story... The icon above is not at all the same as the icon in the photo presented in the thread you quoted from this forum's archive:
http://www.monachos.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-2095.html

This is puzzling... anyone can help sheding some light??
Thanks

[Irene]

Sorry Angela, I had to search through the threads for links to pictures because, at first I did not quite understand what you were asking in your latest post.

The picture of the renewing Icon link is here. (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b118/sparrowshell/MiraculousTheSignIcon.jpg)

The picture of an icon in Olga's post is a picture depicting this type of Icon, not of the actual Icon itself. As she herself states in the following quote:
The type of icon mentioned is known by various names, including Abalatskaya, Abalakskaya, and Abalat. ... Here is a version of this icon:"

Olga is showing us a version of this Icon in order for us to see clearly what is portrayed on this type of icon.

Irene
Note: text highlighted/underlined by me.