Saint Christopher – Gold-printing with Sandblasting – Mount Athos

Description

Sandblasting gold printing with Saint Christopher

An amazing gold print with Saint Christopher. Saint Christopher came from a semi-barbaric tribe and was called Rebrobus. He probably lived during the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251 AD). Because he was very ugly in appearance, he was called “dog-faced”.

Before he was baptized as a Christian, while he was still a catechumen, wanting to please Christ, he settled in a dangerous river passage and carried freely on his shoulders those who wished to cross to the opposite bank. One day a small child appeared to him, who begged him to pass it across. Rebrobus willingly lifted it on his shoulders and, resting on his staff, entered the river. But as he progressed, the weight of the child increased, so that with great effort he managed to reach the opposite bank. As soon as he reached his destination, exhausted, he told the child that if he lifted the whole world, he would not be so heavy. The child replied, “Do not be surprised, for you have not only carried the whole world, but also the one who created it. I am He in whose service thou hast laid thy strength, and in proof of this plant thy staff, and tomorrow it shall have sprouted,” and immediately disappeared.

Rebrobus planted the rod and the next day found it indeed sprouted. After this incident he was baptized as a Christian by the holy martyr Babyla, who renamed him Christopher.

In Orthodox hagiography, Saint Christopher is depicted carrying Christ on his shoulder. In view of this, he is considered the protector of drivers

Saint Christopher was subjected to horrific torture for his faith and was finally beheaded in 251 A.D. The Church commemorates him on May 9.

Sandblasted Gold Printing: Features

In the icon with the representation of Saint Christoforou, the hagiographer monk used the technique of gold printing creating a work of unique beauty. Gold-stamping is a kind of hot-stamping technique. Hot-stamping is the method by which very thin metal gold sheet is placed on surfaces such as wood, leather, cardboard, plastic by pressing a heated embossed plate (plate) on our surface. Around the image you also use the technique of sandblasting, it is the technical treatment that achieves the corrosion of part or all of a surface by pouring sand under pressure.

Dimensions: 14,5 x 18 x 0,5 cm.
Origin: Mount Athos