The Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of Pisidia is an ancient Byzantine icon, which used to be venerated in the city of Sozopolis in Pisidia (near the modern city of Uluborlu, Turkey), where it became known in the 6th century.
In the second half of the 6th century, Presbyter Eustathios, a contemporary and biographer of the Saint Eutyches, Patriarch of Constantinople, reported a miracle performed through the fervent prayer of holy Patriarch. One married couple from the city of Amasya (near the city of Uluborlu, Turkey) had children born dead. This greatly saddened the couple and one day, grieving over the misfortune, they turned to Patriarch Eutyches for advice. Saint Eutyches prayed and anointed the spouses with holy oil from the Cross of the Lord and from the holy icon of the Mother of God and said: “In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, name the child Peter, and he will live”. Soon the couple had a son, they named him Peter, then a second son was born, named John, and both of them grew up healthy and strong. The residents of the city, having learned about this miracle, glorified God.
Around the year 600, Elasippos, a disciple of Theodore of Sykeon, witnessed myrrh flowing from the Icon of the Mother of God of Pisidia. He testified that he saw with his own eyes how, through the fiery prayer of Saint Theodore, a stream of oil erupted from the icon and wet the eyes of the worshiper.
In the 8th century, Saint Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople, in a letter to Thomas, Bishop of Claudiopolis, wrote: “Through various icons God performed miracles, about which many are eager to tell a lot. For example, He gave healing to the sick, which we ourselves experienced. The most remarkable thing is that no objection or doubt can be found against the fact that the icon of the All-Immaculate Mother of God, located in Sozopolis of Pisidia, poured out a stream of myrrh from the palm of her hand. Many testify to this miracle”. This witness of Patriarch Germanos was confirmed by the Seventh Ecumenical Council when it was read as an argument against the iconoclasts.
A copy of this ancient Byzantine miraculous icon was found in Russia. It belonged to nun Martha, born Xenia Shestova, the mother of Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, the first Romanov. After her death, the copy was placed in the Novospassky Monastery.
From this copy preserved in Russia, a copy was ordered by the late Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia for the newly built church in Mahmutlar-Alanya, named after her, and where it is venerated nowadays by the faithful and solemnly celebrated every year on September 3.