Saint John the Baptist – Aged Lithograph with Gold Leaf – Mount Athos

Description

Aged Lithograph with Saint John the Baptist

An impressive lithograph of Saint John the Baptist, also known as Saint John the Forerunner (January 7), who, through his teachings, prepared the world to welcome the Messiah, Jesus, hence the title “Forerunner.”

According to the Evangelist Luke, John was the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, who was a relative of the Virgin Mary. Concerning his conception and birth, which occurred six months before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Evangelist recounts miraculous events. Though Elizabeth was considered barren, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that his wife would bear a son, and he should name him John. Initially, Zechariah did not believe Gabriel’s words and may have suffered a shock, losing his ability to speak (interpreted as a punishment), remaining mute until the child’s naming. Eight days after the birth of the baby, when Zechariah was asked to reveal the child’s name, he wrote the name “John” on a tablet, and immediately his speech was restored.

According to the Evangelist Luke, John appeared at the age of 30, “by divine command,” in the region of Perea “in the wilderness of Judea,” preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and “baptizing those who came to him.” It was there that Jesus Christ met him and asked to be baptized by him. John initially refused, saying he was not worthy to baptize the Messiah, but the Messiah should baptize him. However, Jesus insisted, and thus Saint John the Baptist baptized Him in the waters of the Jordan River.

Both John’s appearance and his ascetic lifestyle (wearing a woolen garment “made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist,” and surviving on wild honey and locusts), along with his preaching and the baptisms of repentance he conducted, naturally attracted many followers and admirers, as well as envy from others.

He openly condemned the relationship of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, with Herodias, his brother’s wife. As a result, John was imprisoned and later beheaded. During a feast celebrating Herod’s birthday, Herod promised his daughter Salome, who danced for him, to grant her any request. Herodias, her mother, who hated John, saw this as an opportunity and urged her daughter to ask for the head of the prophet John on a platter.

As a biblical figure, he is considered to stand at the junction between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, he is viewed as a “Prophet” and messenger of God, and in the New Testament, as the “Forerunner.”

Aged Lithograph: Characteristics

In this particular image, the monk iconographer used the technique of lithography to create a work of unique beauty, bordered with gold leaf. Specifically, using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the monk crafted this piece following the traditional method of artificial aging, as taught in the iconography workshops of the Athonite State. Moreover, the artificial aging of the icon is handmade, a process to which the monks of Mount Athos give special importance.

The icon is available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos