Saint Anastasia – Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Lithograph of Saint Anastasia

This image features the representation of Saint Anastasia, who is known as the Great Martyr due to the immense suffering she endured, and as the Healer of Potions (Pharmakolytria) because she healed the sick and had the power to undo poisons, or spells. Saint Anastasia lived in Rome during the time of Emperor Diocletian. She came from a wealthy family and was baptized a Christian.

According to tradition, in order to help imprisoned Christians, Saint Anastasia would collect the flowers of plants, boil them, and use the extracts to heal the sick. When it became known that she was Christian, she suffered horrific tortures. In Thessalonica, she became the teacher of Christianity for the three sisters, Agape, Chionia, and Irene, who were martyred during the reign of Diocletian. For this reason, the Roman authorities imprisoned and tortured Anastasia in a prison in Thessalonica.

Lithograph of Saint Anastasia: Characteristics

In the image depicting Saint Anastasia, the iconographer monk used the lithography technique to create a work of unique beauty. Specifically, by using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the monk crafted this work following the traditional method of artificial aging, as taught to him in the iconography workshops of the Athonite State. The handmade artificial aging of the icon is a process to which the monks of Mount Athos give special attention.

Origin: Mount Athos