Virgin of the Sweet Kiss – Silk Screen Print on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Icon of the Virgin of the Sweet Kiss on Naturally Aged Wood

A beautiful icon of the Virgin of the Sweet Kiss, depicted lovingly holding the infant Christ in her arms. Her posture highlights her human side as she bows her head and her face touches that of her beloved son. The embrace of the two figures is deeply symbolic, while also reflecting the Virgin Mary’s love for her son from her purely human side.

The history of the icon of the Virgin of the Sweet Kiss is connected to the iconoclasm. Specifically, the icon was saved by Victoria, the wife of Simeon Patricius, who kissed it for the last time and threw it into the sea of Constantinople. The icon did not sink but, floating on the waves, it reached the eastern side of Mount Athos, specifically to the harbor of the Monastery of Philotheou.

The cells of Mount Athos, with their centuries-old history, succumb to the passage of time, and thus the monks are forced to replace certain parts during renovation works. However, many of these woods, which are pieces of Athonite tradition, are reused by the monks to create these stunning icons. The icon of the beloved Virgin was crafted on such a piece of wood. In this way, a piece of the sacred history of Mount Athos is carried beyond the borders of the Athonite state.

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

The icon is available upon order.

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 20 x 23 x 2 cm