Description

Aged Lithography with Saint Calliope

Saint Calliope (June 8) lived in the middle of the 3rd century AD, during the reign of Emperor Decius. She was distinguished for her natural beauty, as well as for her rich spiritual and mental gifts. She vehemently rejected every proposal of marriage because she had dedicated her life to Christ, His Divine Word, and the service and consolation of the sick and suffering brethren.

During the fierce persecution unleashed by the terrible persecutor of Christians, Decius, Calliope was arrested and brought before the local ruler, who admired her beauty and tried with various flattery and promises to tempt her and lead her into the sinful life of pleasures and idolatry. However, the Saint, with heroic steadfastness and a fighting spirit, confessed her faith in Christ, the only Savior and Redeemer.

Enraged, the tyrant ordered her to be ruthlessly scourged. Afterward, they carved her with knives and burned her wounds. Finally, they beheaded her, granting her the heavenly and incorruptible glory.

Aged Lithography: Characteristics

In this particular image, the iconographer monk used the technique of lithography, creating a work of unique beauty. Specifically, using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the monk crafted this piece following the traditional method of artificial aging, as taught to him in the iconography workshops of Mount Athos. In fact, the artificial aging of the icon is handmade, a process that the monks of Mount Athos give particular importance to.

Origin: Mount Athos