Saint Nicholas – Silk Screen on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Icon of Saint Nicholas on Naturally Aged Wood

Saint Nicholas was born in the 3rd century AD in Patara, Lycia, to devout parents. He lived during the reigns of Emperors Diocletian (284-304 AD), Maximian (286-305 AD), and Constantine the Great. Orphaned at a young age, he inherited a large fortune from his parents, which he distributed to help those in need.

He later dedicated himself to an ascetic life and was eventually honored with the title of Archbishop of Myra. He is highly venerated throughout Greece, especially by people of the sea. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, both military and commercial. In Byzantine art and iconography, he is often depicted saving sailors at sea. He is the patron saint of several cities, including Alexandroupolis, Volos, Galaxidi, Kozani, Polygyros, Sitia, and Syros.

In this particular icon, Saint Nicholas is placed on naturally aged wood and adorned with liquid gold in the halo. The wood has been carefully preserved, not only to stop the deterioration caused by time but also to maintain its current state. The age of the wood requires careful conservation methods, and monks use well-known preservation techniques. The icon has also been aged to match the wooden surface. The final addition was the meticulously crafted halo, which not only completes the icon but also helps to better bind the image.

The value of these works is not only sentimental, as the wood originates from the cells of Mount Athos, where many elderly spiritual fathers lived and ascended for many years, but also spiritual, as it is adorned with the image of Saint Nicholas, the protector of all faithful from the storms of life.

As the image is handmade and the wood processing is done by hand, there may be slight variations in the wood, but not in the depiction itself.

The image is available upon request.

Dimensions: 26 x 34 x 2.5 cm