Saint John the Baptist – Serigraph on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Serigraph of Saint John the Baptist on Naturally Aged Wood

An amazing serigraph of Saint John the Baptist, also known as Saint John the Forerunner (August 29), 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. Regarding his conception and birth, which occurred six months before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Evangelist recounts miraculous events. Although Elizabeth was considered barren, the archangel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that his wife would give birth to a son, and he was to be named John. Initially, Zechariah did not believe Gabriel’s words and likely experienced some kind of shock, during which he lost his ability to speak (an event interpreted as a punishment). He remained mute until the day of the child’s naming. Eight days after the birth of the child, when Zechariah was asked to reveal the name, he wrote “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 the Jordan River, “in the wilderness of Judea”, preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” and “baptizing those who came to him.” There, Jesus Christ met him and asked to be baptized by him. Initially, John refused, saying that he was not worthy to baptize the Messiah, but the Messiah should baptize him. However, Christ insisted, and so Saint John the Forerunner baptized Him in the waters of the Jordan River.

Both his appearance and ascetic lifestyle (he wore a woolen garment “of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist”, and his diet consisted of wild honey and locusts), along with his preaching and baptisms of repentance, naturally attracted many listeners and admirers, but also provoked the envy of many others.

He openly condemned the relationship of the then tetrarch of Galilee, Herod Antipas, with Herodias, his brother’s wife. As a result, John was imprisoned and later beheaded when, during a birthday feast, Herod promised his daughter Salome anything she asked for after dancing for him. 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 be at the crossroads between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, he is regarded as a “Prophet” and messenger of God, while in the New Testament, he is known as the “Forerunner”.

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.

Dimensions: 26 x 35.5 x 2.5 cm

Origin: Mount Athos