Saint George – Antique Serigraph | Mount Athos

Description

Antique Serigraph with Saint George

At this beautiful icon there is the representation of Saint George. He was a soldier of Cappadocian Greek origins, member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. He became one of the most venerated saints and megalo-martyrs in Christianity. His father died for the faith when George was fourteen, and his mother returned with George to her homeland.

A few years later, George’s mother died. George travelled to the capital Nicomedia and joined the Roman army. George was executed by decapitation on 23 April 303. A witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra of Rome to become a Christian as well, so she joined George in martyrdom. His body was returned to Lydda for burial, where Christians soon came to honour him as a martyr.

Serigraph: Characteristics

Serigraph is a common technique in iconography and as a result is being taught and used in many iconography workshops including the ones at Mount Athos. At iconographies that are made with this particular technique monks are using traditional methods, which means that the iconographer creates the biggest part of the icon by hand and with less participation of technology. The artificial maturation of the iconographies is also handmade and gives at these works of art collectable value. These are exact copies of Byzantine art with an intense charm of old. This iconography is created with excellent materials in natural wood and the painted surface is covered with pure beeswax so it remains intact and with bright colours.

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 16 x 23 x 2 cm