Saint Ephraim of Nea Makri – Engraved Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Engraved Lithograph with Saint Ephraim of Nea Makri

An amazing icon with Saint Ephraim of Nea Makri, one of the “new” saints, who was born in 1384 in Trikala.

In order to escape the child massaging, he was sent to the Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on Mount Amomon at the age of 14. There he remained until the age of 18 as a novice monk, then he was anointed a monk and in a few years a priest. His holy relics were found by the nun Makaria Desypri on January 3, 1950 in the place where the Holy Monastery of Amomon is located today in Nea Makri, Attica.

According to Christian tradition, since 1416, when Athens was conquered by the Ottomans, the Holy Monastery experienced two disasters. During the first the saint happened to be praying in a cave on the mountain. The Ottoman army slaughtered the other fathers and monks, whom Saint Ephraim buried when he returned. In 1425 the Turks found him and tortured him with particular ferocity for 8.5 months. He was martyred on May 5, 1426, while the tree where he was nailed and breathed his last still exists today.

Engraved Lithography: Features

The work is crafted entirely by hand, without machinery, in carved natural wood. It is the work of hagiographer Athanasios, a student of the Athonite Ecclesiastical Academy, who remains faithful to Byzantine art as he was taught it on Mount Athos. His works are covered with pure beeswax so that they remain unchanged over time.

In this particular icon, the hagiographer monk used the technique of lithography to create a work of unique beauty. Specifically, using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the monk created this work following the traditional method of artificial aging, as taught in the hagiography workshops of the Athonite State. In fact, the artificial aging of hagiography is handmade, a process to which the monks of Mount Athos pay particular attention.

As the image is handmade and the wood is processed entirely by hand, there may be slight variations in the dimensions of each image.

Image available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos