Saint Joseph the Vatopaidian – Lithograph with Sandblasting – Mount Athos

Description

Lithograph with Sandblasting featuring Saint Joseph the Vatopaidian
The blessed Elder Joseph was born on July 1, 1921, the feast day of the Holy Unmercenaries. He reposed on the same day, July 1, 2009. He is considered one of the contemporary Athonite Orthodox figures, whom the Holy Unmercenaries, it seems, had under their protection. The Elder’s mother, when she was pregnant with him, visited a small monastery dedicated to the Holy Unmercenaries in the Yolu region of Cyprus to pray for her pregnancy. While in the monastery’s courtyard, seven months pregnant, she unexpectedly began to experience the pains of childbirth, and thus, Elder Joseph was born.

After his repose, the first miracle of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi occurred. At the time of his death, his mouth had remained slightly open. When the time came to prepare his body according to the monastic ritual, Elder Ephraim instructed that his face be left uncovered. The monks tried to close his mouth, but it would not close. They sewed him into his monastic robe, as is customary, and then cut the fabric around his face, following Elder Ephraim’s instructions. An hour and a half after his repose, they found Elder Joseph smiling! This is a miracle that divine grace works and cannot be investigated or explained scientifically. Only through personal experience can any devout and humble Christian truly feel and understand this great event.

Lithograph with Sandblasting: Characteristics
In this particular image, the monk iconographer used the lithography technique to create a work of unique beauty. By using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the monk crafted this piece following the traditional method of artificial aging, as he was taught in the iconography workshops of Mount Athos. The artificial aging of the icon is handmade, a process to which the monks of Mount Athos place great importance.

Around the image, the technique of sandblasting is also used. This is a process in which part or all of a surface is eroded by the projection of sand under pressure.

The image is available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos
Dimensions: 19 x 25 x 2 cm