Virgin Mary – Excavated Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Excavated Lithograph with the Virgin Mother of God

Panagia Egkymonoussa is one of the rarest iconographic subjects, although it is known in Byzantine art as early as the 11th century. During that period, the model of Panagia Vlahernitissa prevailed in Byzantine iconography. In this image, Jesus is depicted in a medal on the breast of the Virgin to show the Divine Word in her womb.

The depiction of the Virgin Mary in an icon is rare.Although our Church attaches great importance to motherhood through its holidays (celebration of the conception of Saint Anne and the Holy Precursor, the birthday of the Theotokos and John the Precursor) and despite its thematic association with the Immaculate Hymn, the Pregnant Virgin , as a model, is not particularly widespread in the art of iconography.

The icon shows the Virgin Mary in a state of pregnancy. Panagia Engymonoussa is the patroness of childless couples and pregnant women. Our Church honors this title of the Virgin on September 25, exactly six months after the Annunciation and three months before Christmas.

Excavated Lithography: Features

The work is crafted entirely by hand, without machines, 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 crafted 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.

Dimensions: 17X25

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