Agia Irini Chrysovalantou – Sandblasting Gold Printing – Mount Athos

Description

Sandblasting gold printing with Agia Irini Chrysovalantou

An amazing gold print with Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, who lived in the 9th century AD, during the reign of Empress Theodora and her memory is honored on July 28.

She came from Cappadocia and was distinguished for her piety, her beauty and her noble upbringing. In fact, her gifts attracted a distinguished man, who asked for Irene in marriage and then set off for Constantinople. On the way, however, passing by the Monastery of Chrysovalantou, the interaction with the nuns liked her to such an extent that she decided to stay with them. She returned to her homeland, sold her belongings helping many poor people, while the rest of the money was donated to the Monastery. She renounced worldly things and became a nun, living an ascetic life, and was later appointed abbess.

One year, while the saint was awake in prayer, she welcomed, after a vision, with tears of reverence and gratitude, a sailor who brought her three apples, “a blessing from Paradise to eat and rejoice”. These are the “apples of childlessness” that have helped thousands of faithful women to have children. This is why Saint Irene is considered the protector of pregnancy.

Sandblasted Gold Printing: Features

In the icon with the representation of Agia Irini Chrysovalantou, the hagiographer monk used the technique of gold printing creating a work of unique beauty. Gold-stamping is a kind of hot-stamping technique. Hot-stamping is the method by which very thin metal gold sheet is placed on surfaces such as wood, leather, cardboard, plastic by pressing a heated embossed plate (plate) on our surface. Around the image you also use the technique of sandblasting, it is the technical treatment that achieves the corrosion of part or all of a surface by pouring sand under pressure.

Dimensions: 14,5 x 18 x 0,5 cm.
Origin: Mount Athos