The symbol of the 100th Anniversary of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago incorporates a photograph of the icon of the Panagia Directress that is seen on the Iconostasis of the Church. Commissioned by Father George Massouras of Blessed Memory, Iconographer George Filippakis completed the Panagia Directress in 1997. The scrollwork surrounding the symbol of the 100th Anniversary is copied from a photograph of the scrollwork painted throughout the Church and the quote “More radiant that the rays of sun, and higher than the heavens…” is taken from the Hymn Agne Parthene/Ἁγνὴ Παρθένε by St.Nectarios of Aegina in the late 19th Century.

The Panagia Directress Icon is an important part of Orthodox Christian iconography, embodying deep theological meanings and serving as a focus of devotion for many believers, including many of our own parishioners. The icon depicts the Virgin Mary presenting her son on her left arm to the viewer and with her hand she is gesturing towards him, pointing to Christ as 'The Way'. Christ, on the other hand, has his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing with the index and middle fingers joined to refer to the two natures of Christ and his thumb locks over the other fingers to signify the Holy Trinity.

The Icon is said to have been inspired by the Apostle Luke and kept in Constantinople. According to one legend, the icon received its name by a miracle of the Holy Virgin. The Mother of God 'appeared' to two blind people and taking them by the hand, she guided them to the famous monastery and sanctuary of the Hodegetria where she restored their vision.

The Mt Athos Icon of the Panagia Directress measures approximately 19" high by 13" wide and has long been in the Katholikon of the Monastery of Vatopedi, on the column of the left choir. In 1730, however, it suddenly disappeared from its place, although the gates of the Monastery were locked, and was found at the Monastery of Xenophontos. Everyone thought that someone had secretly stolen it, and so the icon was brought back to its old place, while the Vatopedi fathers took stricter precautions and locked the church. A short while afterwards when the church was opened for service, the icon was again missing from its place, and soon afterwards news arrived from the Xenophontos Monastery that it was again in the same place in the katholikon there. The Vatopedi monks were now convinced that this was a miracle and determined to withstand the will of the Theotokos no longer. They hastened to Xenophontos to reverence the "Hodegetria," and for a long time afterwards used to send oil and wax for her in her new home.

One of the many poems written by St, Nektarios of Aegina is "Agni Parthene" or "O Virgin Pure". According to a tradition passed down on the island of Aegina, St. Nectarios reportedly composed the text for this poem after having seen a vision of the Theotokos in a dream where she asked him to record this poem. The poem was written much like a canon in that it has nine odes. The original script can still be viewed on his prayer table in his bedroom at this monastery. This Hymn captures the love our parishioners have for Panagia and The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church.