“Virgin Mary Axion Estin – Aged Lithograph – Mount Athos”

Description

Aged Lithograph of the Virgin Mary Axion Estin

An accurate replica of the original image crafted on natural spruce wood.
The Virgin Mary Axion Estin is one of the famous icons of Mount Athos. It is located in the church of the Protaton in Karyes and serves as the protective icon of all the monasteries on Mount Athos.

Initially, the icon of the Virgin Mary Axion Estin was housed in a cell of the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator, in the valley known as “Adein.” On June 11, 980 AD, the elder was away at a vigil in Karyes, leaving only his novice behind. The novice completed his rule normally that evening. Suddenly, he heard someone knocking at the door. He opened it and saw a passerby asking for hospitality. The monk continued his prayers until he reached the ninth ode, “More Honorable than the Cherubim.” At that moment, the guest interrupted him and said, “First, you shall say: Axion estin as it is truly…” as a supplement to the Magnificat of the Theotokos.

The monk, excited, asked the guest to write down the hymn so that he could chant it as well. Since there was no ink and paper in the cell, the mysterious stranger carved the hymn with his finger on a stone tablet. He told the novice that this hymn should be chanted by all Orthodox Christians from that point on, and he mysteriously vanished as he had appeared.

The fathers of Mount Athos sent the tablet to the king and to Patriarch Nicholas Chrysoverges, who approved the introduction of this angelic hymn into the liturgical life of the Church.

The icon in front of which this hymn was first chanted was transferred to the Protaton, where an annual feast in honor of the Virgin Mary was established to commemorate this miraculous event.

Lithograph – Characteristics

The technique of lithography is taught in the iconography workshops of Mount Athos and is used by several monks to create exceptional works of art. In this case, the iconographer monk used a lithographed copy of Byzantine art and created this work following the traditional method of hand aging. Thus, he produced a beautiful piece with unique aesthetic value. The wood has been treated with suitable materials to ensure great durability of the colors over time.
 

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 40 x 28 x 4.5 cm