The Nicaea Icon of the Mother of God appeared
in the city of Nicaea in Asia Minor in the year 304, as the city was under siege. One of the soldiers, whose name was Constantine,
saw the Icon of the Theotokos and threw a stone at it. Then he began to trample it underfoot. That night, the Mother of God
appeared in a dream to the soldier who had perpetrated this sacrilege and said: "You have insulted me most grievously,
and it shall lead to your death."
The following day, during the battle, the impious man was struck in the head with a stone and fell down dead.
This event was mentioned by the Fathers of the
First Ecumenical Council in 325, and they ordained that the following hymn, "Your womb has become a Holy Table, which
held the Heavenly Bread. Those who partake of it shall not die, as the Nourisher of all has said, O Theotokos." should
be sung before the Nicaea Icon of the Mother of God.
Christ stated that He is the Bread of Life which had come down from Heaven when He spoke to the crowd at Capernaum
(John 6:50).
This Theotokion
is sung at Mid-Pentecost during Ode 5 of the Second Canon (Tone 8), which was composed by Saint Andrew of Crete. In some Orthodox
Prayer Books, it is one of the Prayers After the Evening Meal.
The Nicaea Icon is very similar in appearance to the “Inexhaustible Chalice”
Icon (May 5).
