Our Lady of Paramythia – Silk Screen on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Silk Screen of Our Lady of Paramythia on Naturally Aged Wood

An exceptional silk screen of Our Lady of Paramythia.

The original icon of Our Lady of Paramythia is located at the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. According to Christian tradition, in 807 AD, pirates secretly landed on the monastery’s beach and hid, waiting for the gate to open so they could attack. However, after the end of Matins, the abbot heard the Virgin Mary telling him: “Do not open the gates of the monastery today, but go up to the walls and drive away the pirates.” Turning his gaze toward the icon, he saw the Divine Infant stretch out His hand to cover His mother’s lips, saying: “Do not, my mother, let them be punished as they deserve.” But the Virgin Mary, holding her Son’s hand, repeated the same words. Indeed, the monks were saved from the pirates, and, according to tradition, the expressions on the faces, as well as the posture of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, changed from that moment onward in the icon.

The specific piece of wood used as the base of the icon comes from restoration work on a cell in Mount Athos, which, after being processed using the monks’ special techniques, was repurposed. The entire composition respects the age of the wood and faithfully reflects the Byzantine tradition of Mount Athos.

As the image is handmade and the wood processing is done by hand, there may be slight variations in the wood, but not in the depiction itself.

The image is available upon request.

Dimensions: 18 x 25.5 x 2 cm

Origin: Mount Athos