The icon is a living presence and constitutes a member of the fraternity, as has been demonstrated on several occasions. One who finds himself in the cathedral feels the presence of the tall silhouette within the space, even when he is not looking at it. According to tradition, when the founders had brought it from Constantinople to lay the foundations of the Monastery, it was placed in a spot chosen by them (which was not the same place where the Monastery is located today), and work was begun. However, the next morning, the icon was found at the spot where the Monastery stands today. The founders had the the icon brought back to the original position, and work was contined. The next day, the icon was once again found in the new location. After a third repetition of this miracle, the founders decided to follow the wishes of the Virgin Mary relating to the location of the Monastery. The original location which had been chosen corresponds with that where the chapel of St Athanasios now stands, about 500 meters northwest of the Monastery.
