Virgin Hodegetria – Serigraph on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Serigraph of the Virgin Hodegetria on Naturally Aged Wood

An image of the Virgin Hodegetria on naturally aged wood. The Athonite monk created this stunning icon, focusing on the expression of the Theotokos, in order to depict her emotional intensity as she embraces her monastic son.

According to one version, the icon of the Virgin Hodegetria would miraculously disappear from the monastery where it was originally located and appear in another monastery, choosing by itself the place where it wished to be. As tradition states, the Hodegetria icon, which was in the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, disappeared twice during the year 1730.

In both instances, there was no breach of the monastery, and the icon was eventually found in the Holy Monastery of Xenophontos. Eventually, the fathers of Vatopedi realized that the icon was disappearing miraculously, and they did not want to oppose the will of the Virgin. From then on, the icon of the Virgin Hodegetria has been housed in the katholikon (main church) of the Holy Monastery of Xenophontos.

The uniqueness of this icon comes not only from the stunning serigraphy technique but also from the wood used by the monk who created this beautiful work. It is naturally aged wood, which comes from the renovation of an Athonite cell. The monks kept this wood, cut it using special techniques, and restored it so they could ultimately give it new life through this new use.

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 itself.

The icon is available upon request.

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 31 x 24 x 2 cm