Saint Sabbas Achilles – Silkscreen on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Silkscreen of Saint Sabbas Achilles, from Alona – Cyprus on Naturally Aged Wood

Father Sabbas Achilles was born in the mountainous village of Alona in Nicosia on August 2, 1930. He was the fifth and youngest child of a poor farming family. His parents, Achilleas and Eleni, were devout and God-fearing people. Due to his hardworking and gifted nature, he quickly taught himself to play the violin and accompany weddings with traditional songs. He also learned the craft of shoemaking and repaired and made shoes for his fellow villagers.

On May 31, 1959, he was ordained a Deacon at the Church of Panagia Faneromeni in Nicosia and moved to Athens to begin his studies at the Theological School of Athens. While studying in Athens, he also engaged in rich spiritual and charitable activities, serving as Deacon at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Vyronas and dedicating himself to learning French (mostly self-taught, with some help from a parishioner), so that he could take advantage of a scholarship for postgraduate studies in France and Brussels.

After five years, he returned to Cyprus, and it was decided that his ordination as a Priest would take place on August 15, 1964, at the Holy Monastery of Kykkos with great splendor and sanctity. Having mastered the French language and earned a degree, as well as receiving the Priesthood, he left for Brussels. The Bishop of France, Metropolitan Meletios, appointed him the head of the Orthodox Church of Brussels (at that time, Belgium was an Exarchate of the Metropolis of France), while also allowing him to pursue studies at the university in pastoral theology.

The events of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 deeply affected him. He resigned from the Evangelism and rushed to his beloved homeland to help as best as he could. He served at the Diocese of Kyrenia until 1975, and once the difficult historical events had been settled, he returned to Europe to complete his studies. He returned to Athens, and on March 1, 1976, he was appointed as the priest in a newly created parish in the Karea area, where two small chapels of Saint Stylianos and Saint Paraskevi existed. There, he began a monumental effort, and the great miracle of Saint George was achieved. First, a semi-basement church was built, which is now celebrated in honor of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. Later, the magnificent church of Saint George the Great Martyr was completed, the saint who had been the protector of the Elder from the moment he was born (his village has a beautiful church dedicated to him, and Saint George is always known to work miracles). The construction of all auxiliary spaces (canteen, catechetical rooms, and many others) was also completed.

As the icon is handmade and the wood processing is done by hand, there may be slight variations in the wood, but not in the depiction.

The icon is available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 21 x 24 x 3 cm