Panagia Gorgoypikoos – Engraved Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Engraved Lithograph with Panagia Gorgoypikoo

The miraculous icon of Panagia Gorgoypikoos has been in the Holy Monastery of Dochiari on Mount Athos since 1646. She guards the monks from any insult and influence, as well as those who come to her in faith, asking for her intercession.

As Saint Nicodemus mentions in Synaxari, on the right side of the refectory of the Dochiari Monastery was an old icon of the Virgin Mary. This icon was painted in the 11th century, from the time of the founder of the monastery Neophytos. 1646 was a very difficult year for the monastery as it did not have the necessary money to pay as tax to the Turkish conquerors. The refectory of the monastery was constantly passing in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary holding lit torches in his hands.

One night, as he was passing in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary, he heard a voice coming out of it telling him “do not pass by there and blacken the place with smoke”. The monk thought that a man shouted at him and did not pay attention. After a few days, while he continued to pass in front of the icon with lit torches, he again hears a voice saying to him, “O monk, how long will you continue to smoke my form and blacken me by dishonoring me?”

At the same time, the monk lost his sight. He then realized his error and built a pew in front of the icon. He kept begging the Virgin Mary to forgive him and give him his sight. The Virgin Mary, as a merciful mother, listened to the monk’s prayer and said to him, “Behold, from today I give you the light and be careful not to pass with burning torches, because I am the Lady of this Monastery and I quickly obey those who invoke me and grant them their requests for salvation, because I am called Gorgoypikoos”.

The icon has since been called Gorgoypikoos because the Virgin Mary with her miraculous works constantly proves that she obeys and quickly comes to those who invoke her with faith and reverence. Her grace works miraculously on Mount Athos, her Orchard, but also throughout the world.

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