Thousands of Orthodox faithful gathered on the evening of August 2nd in the coastal town of Asprovalta to welcome a revered replica of the miraculous icon of the Theotokos “Trojeručica” (Three-Handed), brought by sea from the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos.

The icon’s arrival, organized with the blessing of Metropolitan Theologos of Serres and Nigrita, marks the beginning of spiritual preparations for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos—one of the most cherished celebrations in Greek Orthodox tradition.

The ship carrying the sacred image docked in the port of Asprovalta just before sunset, where clergy, local officials, and crowds of believers awaited its arrival with candles, prayers, and hymns. Pilgrims from across Greece and neighboring countries—particularly Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria—joined the reception, highlighting the icon’s pan-Orthodox significance.

A solemn procession accompanied by a church choir and municipal orchestra led the icon to the Church of Saint George, where an akathist hymn was chanted in thanksgiving. Metropolitan Theologos addressed the faithful, calling the event “a profound spiritual gift in challenging times.”

“This is more than a ceremony,” the Metropolitan said. “The presence of the Trojeručica is a living connection to the deep tradition of Athonite monasticism and the enduring grace of the Mother of God. Her gentle gaze speaks to us as only a Mother can—offering comfort, hope, and strength.”

The icon will remain in the Church of Saint George through Thursday, August 7. Metropolitan Theologos also announced that the church will now commemorate a special annual feast—the Synaxis of the Icon of the Theotokos “Trojeručica”—on the first Sunday of every August, as a lasting symbol of the Theotokos' blessing and the spiritual bond with Mount Athos.

The original Trojeručica icon is one of the most venerated in the Orthodox world, housed in the Serbian Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos. According to tradition, its third hand was miraculously added in response to the healing of Saint John of Damascus, whose severed hand was restored after he prayed before the icon.

The arrival of the replica in Asprovalta has been widely seen as a moment of grace and unity for Orthodox believers in the region, reaffirming the enduring presence of faith and the intercession of the Theotokos in the life of the Church.