Agios Paisios – Engraved Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Engraved Lithograph with Saint Paisios

This icon depicts Saint Paisios the Athonite (25 July 1924 – 12 July 1994), who became widely known for his life and work.

His classification as a saint of the Orthodox Church was carried out by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on January 13, 2015, while the Orthodox Church celebrates his memory on July 12. In fact, in 2017 he was declared the patron saint of the military weapon of Transmissions, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

Saint Paisios spent his last years in the cell of Panagouda on Mount Athos, where he was visited by many people to listen to him and get his blessing. He lived an intense ascetic life, with minimal rest of 2 to 3 hours a day. After his death he was buried in the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, Thessaloniki. Since then, every year on July 11-12, on his feast, a vigil is held at the Holy Hermitage, with the participation of thousands of believers.

The amazing silkscreen created by the monk and the age of the wood, confirmed by the cracks that run through its surface, are two of the key elements that make this icon collectible. Apart from the wonderful representation of Saint Paisios, the monk in this case used as the basis for the icon wood of natural age from a restored cell of Mount Athos.

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