Panagia Axion Esti – Excavated Lithography – Mount Athos

Description

Excavated Lithograph with Virgin Mary Axion

With the term Axion Esti we refer to the great hymn of the Virgin Mary, which is sung after the 9th Ode of the Canons and in the Divine Liturgy immediately after the consecration of the Holy Gifts. The icon of the Virgin Mary that is today in the Holy Synthron of the Temple of Protatos, in Karyes of Mount Athos, is also referred to as “Axion Estin”. It is considered the most important icon of Mount Athos, since it is the “Ephesian” and “Patron” of the 20 Agioritei Monasteries, a copy of which can be found in each Monastery. It celebrates with great religious splendor on Easter Monday with a litany in the area of ​​Karea.Also, on June 11, a Divine Liturgy is held in the Prototo and a celebration is held in the Holy Pan-Imperial Cell of “Axion Estin”, in memory of the miracle below.

Excavated Lithography: Characteristics

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

In this particular image, the hagiographer monk used the lithography technique, creating 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 iconography workshops of the State of Athens. In fact, the artificial aging of the iconography is done by hand, a process to which the monks of Mount Athos give special importance.

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

Theimage is available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos