Evangelismos - Chapel of the Annunciation | Kaikkien Athosvuoren Pyhien Perintösäätiö

Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ κεφάλαιον
καὶ τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις·
ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται
καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται.
Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν·
χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.

    Today is the beginning of our salvation,
    The revelation of the eternal mystery!
    The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
    As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
    Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
    Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
    The Lord is with You!

The icons and frescoes of the chapel of Evangelismos are the work of many peoples' love towards God.

The icons of the iconostasis and the royal doors were painted by Mrs Eeva-Maria Laaksonen from Hämeenlinna. The prototypes of the icons are from the Athonite monastery of Stavronikita. The royal doors (“the beautiful doors”) were made in Greece and their model is from the Athonite monastery of Vatopedi, which is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Theotokos.

The main icon the chapel is Panagia Portaitissa (Gate-keeper). The icon is a copy of the most famous Athonite, miracle-working icon which is situated in the Holy Monastery of Iveron on Mount Athos. The copy was painted by hieromonk Joseph of the Holy Skete of the Saints Andrew the First-Called and Anthony the Great. It was blessed by placing it on front of the original icon on the Holy Mountain.

The scenes depicting the life of the Theotokos were painted by two iconographers from Oulu, Heljä-Marja Surcel and Meeri Kurola. The frescoes inside the altar depict the Church Fathers and they are painted by Katerina Kovrigina.

The frescoes situated in the pilars in the chapel were painted by Demetrios Vernezos from the island of Evia. There are frescoes of Christ, the Panagia, Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, Saint John the Russian, Saint Paisios the Athonite, Saint Porphyrios of Kausokalivia, Saint Cosmas of Aetolia, Saint Sophrony of Essex, Saint Nectarios of Aegina, Saint Iakovos of Evia, Saint Siluan the Athonite, Saint Justin of Celije, Saint Georgios of Drama, Saint Gabriel of Georgia, Saint Seraphim of Sarov and Saint John of Valaam.