Silver-plated icon with Panagia Tsampika. The theme of the Christian icon is depicted with great clarity and rich detail, while impressive, embossed, Byzantine designs cover the entire surface of the icon. The material of the icon is composed of a special, durable metal alloy, impregnated with pure silver 999. The special treatment using the PVD method, as well as the excellent quality silkscreen printing according to the standards of Byzantine iconography, create the final result of the image that remains unchanged over time. The icons of this series can be hung on the wall and stand on a flat surface.
The miraculous icon of the Theotokos Tsampika originated from Cyprus. Despite repeated efforts by the Cypriots to reclaim it, the icon would miraculously return to Rhodes. The name “Tsambika” is believed to derive either from the greek word “σαμβύκη”, meaning ship or from the local term “tsampa”, meaning flame or spark. The second interpretation is linked to the discovery of the icon by a shepherd who observed a mysterious flame at the summit of Mount Zambyki. The holy icon of the Theotokos is unique due to the miracles it performs, particularly among childless couples. One of the most renowned miracles concerns the wife of a Turkish pasha, who conceived a child after fervent prayer. In gratitude, the pasha donated vast lands to the church. The monastery of the Theotokos Tsampika in Rhodes consists of both the old and new monastery, commonly referred to by the locals as the "High" (in Greek “Ψηλή”) and "Low" (in Greek “Χαμηλή”). The feast of the Virgin Mary Tsambika is celebrated twice a year, on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross and on September 8th, the Nativity of the Theotokos.
