Saint Anna – Aged Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Aged Lithograph of Saint Anna

Saint Anna (December 9) was the mother of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

According to Orthodox tradition, Saint Anna came from the tribe of Levi. Her father, who was a priest, was named Matthath and her mother was named Maria. Saint Anna married Joachim in Galilee and was honored to have the unique blessing of giving birth to the mother of the Savior of the world.

After Saint Anna weaned the Theotokos and dedicated her to God, she spent the rest of her life in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving to the poor. Finally, she peacefully gave her righteous soul to God, inheriting eternal blessings.

A magnificent church in honor of Saint Anna was built in Constantinople around 550 AD by Emperor Justinian. Relics of Saint Anna are kept in the Athonite skete of Saint Anna, the Holy Church of Saint Anna in Katerini, and other locations. The conception of Saint Anna is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on December 9th, and her Dormition on July 25th.

Aged Lithograph: Features

In this particular image, the iconographer monk used the technique of lithography to create a uniquely beautiful work of art. 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 that monks from Mount Athos place great importance on.

Origin: Mount Athos