Last Supper – Engraved Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Engraved Lithograph with the Last Supper

On Thursday, before Jesus is led to the cross, he delivers the Last Supper to his disciples in Jerusalem, and Judas betrays him. Before the dinner begins, Jesus washes the feet of all His disciples himself, thereby wanting to teach everyone humility. Then He sat down at the table, and taking His bread in His hands, He said to them, “Receive, eat.” He did the same with the wine glass, saying, “Squeeze out of it, everyone, because that’s my blood. That’s what you do to remember me.” In this way He delivered to the people the sacrament of the Eucharist.

The meaning of the Last Supper is the two aspects of love, joy and sorrow, light and darkness. Christ’s love for his disciples and man brings redemption from the passions. However, at the same time, Judas’ love for the thirty pieces of silver is destructive and leads him from light to darkness. On Holy Thursday, the Church commemorates the Last Supper, that is, the tradition by the Lord Himself of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to people.

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