Holy Trinity, Saint George & Saint Demetrius – Silkscreen on Naturally Aged Wood

Description

Silkscreen of the Holy Trinity, Saint George, and Saint Demetrius on Naturally Aged Wood

This magnificent icon depicts the Holy Trinity, along with Saints George and Demetrius. It is a unique composition filled with symbolism, primarily found in post-Byzantine times. The representation shows the three Persons of the Holy Trinity: the Father, portrayed as an elderly figure with white hair and a beard; the Son, seated to His right; and the Holy Spirit, depicted as a dove hovering between them.

The Holy Trinity refers to the Christian belief in one God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are indivisible and consubstantial. This is known as the doctrine of the Trinity.

At the base of the icon, two of the most popular cavalry saints are depicted: Saint George and Saint Demetrius.

Saint George was born in Cappadocia around 275 AD to Christian parents. At the age of 18, he joined the Roman army under Emperor Diocletian. When the persecution of Christians began, he openly confessed his faith to the emperor, enduring severe torture before being beheaded.

Saint George is regarded as the patron saint of the Infantry and the Army. His feast day is celebrated on April 23rd, but if this falls during Lent (before Easter), his feast is celebrated on the day after Easter (Monday of Bright Week).

Saint Demetrius, protector and patron saint of Thessaloniki, is depicted in this icon as well. His feast day is celebrated with grandeur in Thessaloniki on October 26th.

Saint Demetrius (October 26) is seen as the protector and liberator of Thessaloniki. Not only because the city’s liberation from the Ottomans in 1912 coincided with his feast day, but also because, according to tradition, before the city’s liberation, the people saw the saint on horseback atop the White Tower, encouraging them.

Saint Demetrius was born into an aristocratic family in Thessaloniki. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Roman army but was imprisoned and martyred for his Christian faith. His body was buried at the site of his martyrdom, where a magnificent church was later built in his honor. His tomb became a deep well from which myrrh flowed, giving him the title of Myrrhbearer.

In Byzantine iconography and modern religious art, Saint George is depicted on a white horse, slaying the dragon, while Saint Demetrius is shown on a red horse, trampling the pagan Lyaeus.

The uniqueness of this icon lies in the aged wood used as the canvas. The cracks in the wood bear witness to its time spent at Mount Athos, enhancing its authenticity. The wood collected from the renovations of Mount Athos’ cells is not discarded but carefully stored, cut, and preserved by the monks to be transformed into small works of art, specifically icons that carry with them the blessings of the monks who lived in the cells from which the wood originated.

Since the icon is handmade and the wood is processed by hand, there may be slight variations in the wood, but not in the depiction.

The icon is available upon order.

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 19.5 x 24 x 2 cm