The icon was painted to commemorate the words of the Theotokos to the founder of the Monastery St Athanasius the Athonite to the effect that she would thereafter be responsible for the material sustenance of the Monastery and that no one else could have the title of “economos” (steward) at the Lavra, because she would be the “economissa” there. And it is a fact that until this very day the monk who is charged with this task at the Lavra is not called “economos” but “para-economos”, that is assistant steward. The icon, which shows in all 14 figures with a connection with the Monastery and its foundation, is to be found in the lite on the left of the main entrance to the katholikon in a wooden shrine.
