Jesus Christ Praying – Serigraph on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Serigraph of Jesus Christ Praying on Naturally Aged Wood

A beautiful image on naturally aged wood, where the cracks and age of the wood are clearly visible, elements that enhance its unique value. This icon stands out not only for its theme, depicting Jesus Christ Praying, and the stunning art of serigraphy, but also for the wood used as the base. The monk who created it used naturally aged wood from a restored cell on Mount Athos.

The image of “Jesus Praying” is found in the Gospels of the New Testament.

After the Last Supper, Jesus, along with his faithful apostles, goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, a place he often visited. There, he leaves them near the entrance while he takes three apostles—Peter, James, and John—and moves further into the garden. He begins to feel intense distress and says to the three: “I am deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” —Matthew 26:36-38.

Jesus moves a little further, “falls to the ground and prays.” What does he pray to God for at this difficult moment? He says: “Father, all things are possible for You; take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:35-36) What does He mean? Is He backing away from fulfilling His role as the Savior? No! His human nature, however, feels the pain and dreads what lies ahead.

After praying for a while, Jesus returns and finds the three apostles sleeping. He says to Peter: “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.” Jesus understands that the apostles are under great pressure and that the hour is late. He adds: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:40-41.

Then, Jesus goes further a second time and asks God to remove “this cup” from Him. Upon returning, He finds the three apostles asleep again, though they should be praying to avoid temptation. When Jesus speaks to them, they don’t know “what to say to him.” (Mark 14:40) He moves away for a third time, kneels, and prays again.

Jesus is deeply saddened by the reproach His death as a criminal will bring to His Father’s name. God the Father hears the prayers of the Son, and at one point sends an angel to strengthen Him. Yet, Jesus does not cease His pleas to His Father, continuing to “pray even more earnestly.” His emotional intensity is immense. The weight He bears is enormous, as the eternal life of both Himself and the faithful is at stake. Indeed, “His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.” —Luke 22:44.

When Jesus returns to His apostles for the third time, He finds them asleep again. “At a time like this, you are sleeping and resting!” He says to them. “Look! The hour has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Here comes my betrayer.” —Matthew 26:45-46.

As the icon is handmade and the wood is treated by hand, there may be slight variations in the wood, but not in the depiction.

The icon is available upon order.

Dimensions: 20.5 x 29.5 x 2.5 cm

Origin: Mount Athos