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| Oldest icon of St. Savvas painted by Monk Michael of Kavsokalyva in 1959. |
Monk Michael, the holy hagiographer of Kavsokalyva (+ May 12, 1979), received in 1959 an order from Abbess Philothei in Kalymnos to paint an icon of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos.
Monk Michael, because he did not have an icon or photo of the Saint, nor did he know him personally, prayed to the Lord, but also to Saint Savvas, to be enlightened in order to paint the icon. Indeed, he had great ease in his work and was successful in faithfully depicting his image. When the holy icon was delivered to the customs office, the bell of the Monastery of Saint Savvas in Kalymnos began to ring by itself.
This event was inexplicable until the next day, when they received news from the customs office about the receipt of the icon. The bell rang by itself until they brought the icon to the Monastery.
Monk Michael, because he did not have an icon or photo of the Saint, nor did he know him personally, prayed to the Lord, but also to Saint Savvas, to be enlightened in order to paint the icon. Indeed, he had great ease in his work and was successful in faithfully depicting his image. When the holy icon was delivered to the customs office, the bell of the Monastery of Saint Savvas in Kalymnos began to ring by itself.
This event was inexplicable until the next day, when they received news from the customs office about the receipt of the icon. The bell rang by itself until they brought the icon to the Monastery.
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| Monk Michael of Kavsokalyva |
According to the late Monk Moses the Athonite:
"His [Monk Michael of Kavsokalyva] icons, despite being in the Renaissance style, had a special grace. They were made with much prayer. He painted an icon of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos († 1948) without any model, and it is the Saint himself, as can be seen from photographs. Apparently the Saint appeared to him during his prayer and guided him by his hand. When the icon was transferred to his Monastery in Kalymnos, the bells rang by themselves."
"His [Monk Michael of Kavsokalyva] icons, despite being in the Renaissance style, had a special grace. They were made with much prayer. He painted an icon of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos († 1948) without any model, and it is the Saint himself, as can be seen from photographs. Apparently the Saint appeared to him during his prayer and guided him by his hand. When the icon was transferred to his Monastery in Kalymnos, the bells rang by themselves."