Panagia Glykofilousa – Aged Iconostasis – Mount Athos

Description

Aged iconostasis with Panagia Glykofilousa and the Archangels Michael & Gabriel

A wonderful iconostasis, which has been created as a triptych with the central representation of Panagia Glykofilousa and next to her the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. In each piece, a different person is depicted.

The original icon of Panagia Glykofilousa survived, according to tradition, during the iconoclasm thanks to a woman. This is Victoria, wife of a senator, who had the icon in her house and worshipped it secretly despite the ban. During an investigation by iconoclasts, Victoria took the icon and went down to sea. There he worshipped her for the last time and threw her into the sea, hoping that thanks to a miracle she would be saved. Indeed, the icon did not sink and began to sail on the waters until it reached Mount Athos.

On the two sides of the iconostasis are depicted the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Archangel Michael is the commander of the disembodied forces, appears as Commander-in-Chief and has a key role in both the Old and New Testaments, while he has been established to be celebrated as the patron saint of the Air Force. The Old and New Testaments record the numerous interventions and benefactions performed by the Archangel Gabriel. It was he who brought the news to Zechariah that she would give birth to John the Baptist, to Joachim and Anne that they would give birth to the Most Holy Theotokos and the supreme Annunciation to the Virgin Mary for the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

This iconostasis is made of pieces of wood, which come from a restored cell of Mount Athos. These are woods, which were preserved with the processing techniques used by the monks for the wooden iconostasis of the temples and then used again.

The aged iconostases are new additions to the collection of Mount Athos Heritage, while each of them is unique, as unique are the pieces of wood of which it is composed.

The iconostasis is available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos
Dimensions: 40 x 40 x 2 cm