A Piece of History

Our Lady of Philermos

The ancient icon of Our Lady of Philermos was the focal point of the meeting with the Montenegrin Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović, received in the Magistral Palace by the Sovereign Order of Malta’s Grand Chancellor HE Baron Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager on 26 April.

The state of preservation of the icon, protectress of the Order of Malta since its arrival on the island of Rhodes in 1310 and now in Cetinje in Montenegro, was discussed. It was decided to submit the Byzantine image to an in-depth technical analysis as soon as possible to assess its conservation and if necessary plan its restoration. The Order of Malta also announced that, to better protect the icon from humidity and temperature fluctuations, it will supply the Montenegro government with a hightech display case which, besides being blast-proof, will guarantee perfect climate control.

For the Order, the icon is a symbol of its intense Marian spirituality. On Rhodes, it was kept on Mount Philermos (hence its name) and tradition has it that it was painted by Saint Luke himself.

Above: The original icon of Our Lady of Philermos, National Museum of Cetinje, Montenegro Main image: Interior of 14th century The Church of our Lady of Philerimos, Rhodes, with a copy of the icon Our Lady Of Philermos