Panagia Paramythia – Silkscreen on Naturally Aged Wood – Mount Athos

Description

Icon of the Virgin Paramythia on Naturally Aged Wood

The original icon of the Virgin Paramythia is housed in the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos. According to Christian tradition, in 807 AD, pirates secretly landed on the beach of the monastery and hid, waiting for the monastery gates to open so they could attack. However, after the morning service, the abbot heard the Virgin Mary speaking to him, saying: “Do not open the gates of the monastery today, but go up to the walls and drive away the pirates.” Looking at the icon, he saw the Divine Child stretching out His hand to cover His mother’s lips, saying: “No, my mother, let them be punished as they deserve.” But the Virgin, taking her Son’s hand, repeated the same words. Indeed, the monks were saved from the pirates, and as the tradition tells, the expressions on the faces, as well as the posture of the Virgin and Christ, changed from that moment in the icon.

The naturally aged wood, which for many years “served” the monks in a cell on Mount Athos, is now transformed into this unique piece of art. After the renovation of cells in the Athonite community, the monks keep many pieces of wood, which they process and preserve using the techniques they apply to the wooden iconostases of the monasteries. In this way, the wood is not allowed to complete its life cycle but is instead transformed into the base for collectible icons, which, through the “Athonite Heritage,” carry a small piece of history beyond the borders of Mount Athos.

Since 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 request.

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 20 x 26 x 2 cm