Panagia Rodon Amaranton

€15.00

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The “Rodon Amaranton” (Unfading Rose) icon was discovered around 1890 by a fisherman on the rocks of Piraiki, depicting the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child with a rose. To house it, the Katsaros family built a private chapel in Piraeus.

The "Unfading Rose" symbolizes eternity and the immortality of the soul. In Christian tradition, Jesus Christ is the ultimate, unblemished rose of salvation. Similarly, the Virgin Mary is hailed as the "unfading rose" due to her purity and perpetual virginity, with the fragrance of her virtues remaining eternal.

The Feast of the Holy Theotokos of the Unfading Rose is celebrated annually on April 3rd.

The Virgin Mary “The Unfading Rose” (Rhodon Amaranton)

The history of the icon of the Virgin Mary “The Unfading Rose” dates back to approximately 1890 AD, according to testimonies from elderly residents of the Piraeus area.

According to tradition, a fisherman discovered an ancient icon among the rocks along the coast of Piraiki. The icon depicted the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child and a rose in her hand.

News of this discovery quickly spread throughout the area. A devout family named Katsarou wished to provide a home for the sacred icon. On their own initiative, they built a private chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, naming it “Panagia Rhodon Amaranton” (The Unfading Rose). The ancient icon was placed there and became an object of great veneration among the local inhabitants.

The Unfading Rose, also known as the Rose of Jericho, the Rose of the Virgin Mary, or the Immortal Rose of Resurrection, is a plant symbolizing eternity and the incorruptible, immortal nature of the soul.

The Apostle Paul states:

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved.” (2 Corinthians 2:15)

In this spiritual interpretation, Christ is the “Unfading Rose,” and those who draw near to Him experience a heavenly fragrance.

Jesus Christ is the Rose of Salvation that blossomed in barren soil. Even the most beautiful flowers of the earth are touched by the stain of sin, yet one flower remains completely pure and undefiled: Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, free from the inherited stain of original sin.

The Virgin Mother herself is also called “The Unfading Rose,” symbolizing her immaculate purity and holiness.

According to this theological interpretation, God sought a sweet fragrance in the world and found it in the Virgin Mary, the one human being who was entirely pure and untouched by corruption.

When God beheld her, He perceived the spiritual fragrance of her virtues. For this reason, she is called “The Fragrant Offering to the King of All.”

The flower of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God will remain unfading throughout eternity, for neither the passage of time nor the blasphemies of the impious can cause it to wither.

The Feast of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Unfading Rose is celebrated every year on April 3.