Saint Markella – Aged Lithograph – Mount Athos

Description

Antiqued Lithograph with Saint Markella

Among the numerous Saints that adorn the local hagiography of the myrrh-bearing island of Chios, is Saint Martyr Markella, whose memory is honored on July 22nd.

Saint Markella was born around 1500 AD in Volissos, Chios. From an early age, Markella stood out for her deep faith and love for Christ, her kindness and purity, modesty, and the nobility of her soul. This “earthly angel” was envied by the devil, who sought to fight her by every means possible.

Thus, her idolatrous and hard-hearted father began to desire her in an immoral way. When Markella realized her father’s shameless nature, she abandoned her father’s house and sought refuge in the mountains of the area. Then, driven by his base desires, her father began to search for her furiously. The unfortunate and terrified daughter tried to protect herself in a large bramble. However, a shepherd who saw her betrayed her to her maniacal father, who set the bramble on fire. Saint Markella managed to escape by running over the rocks. Upon seeing her, her father aimed his bow at her and wounded her. The Saint, continuing to run, felt her strength fading, and with her eyes turned toward the Heavenly Bridegroom, she prayed and asked Him to split the rock and hide her inside. Her prayer was answered, and the rock split, taking in her virtuous body up to her chest. When the lustful father reached the place and saw this miraculous event, he became even angrier and cut off her breasts, throwing them onto the mountain. He then beheaded his daughter and threw her head into the sea. According to tradition, an unusual light began to emanate from the Saint’s head, which was crowned with the heavenly, incorruptible crown of victory and divine glory.

The split rock that received the martyr’s body of the Saint remains to this day a site of veneration for pilgrims and a source of healing, as those who pray with faith observe the reddish hue of the rocks and the water vaporizing. Countless miracles have been performed by the grace of God through Saint Markella, from the time of her martyrdom until today.

Antiqued Lithograph: Characteristics

In this particular image, the iconographer monk used the lithography technique to create a unique and beautiful work. Specifically, using a lithographed copy of Byzantine art, the monk created this piece by following the traditional method of artificial aging, as taught to him in the iconography workshops of the Athonite Monastic State. Moreover, the artificial aging of the icon is handmade, a process in which the monks of Mount Athos place great importance.

Origin: Mount Athos