Our Lady of Paramythia – Aged Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Lithograph of Our Lady of Paramythia

An exquisite aged lithograph of Our Lady of Paramythia. According to Christian tradition, in 807 AD, pirates secretly landed on the beach of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos and hid, waiting for the monastery gates to open in order to attack. However, after the end of the Matins service, 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 the pirates away.” Turning his gaze toward the icon, he saw the Divine Child extend His hand to cover the lips of His Mother, saying: “Do not, my Mother, let them be punished as they deserve.” But the Virgin, taking her Son’s hand, repeated the same words. Indeed, the monks were saved from the pirates, and as tradition tells, the expressions on the faces, as well as the posture of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, changed in the icon from that moment on.

Lithograph: Characteristics

This particular image of Our Lady of Paramythia has been created using the lithography technique. This technique is taught in the iconography workshops of Mount Athos and is used by many monks to create remarkable works of art. In this case, the monk iconographer used a lithographed copy of Byzantine art and crafted this work following the traditional method of artificial aging. He created a beautiful piece with unique aesthetic value.

Origin: Mount Athos