Virgin and Child, Axion Esti, Wooden Carved Icon, 18 x 24 cm       
Greek Orthodox Icon of Theotokos (Mother of God) - Axion Esti - "It is Truly Meet", Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 18 x 24 cm.

The original of the icon of the Mother of God called "Axion Esti", or "It is truly meet," is kept in the Holy Dormition Katholicon in Karyes, Mt. Athos. In the tenth century the Archangel Gabriel came in monastic clothes to a monk who was keeping vigil before this icon When the monk began to sing "More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify," the Angel told him that the angelic choirs preface this with "It is truly meet and right to bless thee, Theotokos, ever-blessed all-pure Mother of our God."

Overwhelmed by the beauty of the song, the monk asked his visitor to write it down, which he did - inscribing it on a stone as if it were soft wax - then disappeared. It soon became the custom to sing this Angelic hymn at the most solemn and joyous moment of every Orthdox liturgy, just after the Consecration. The scroll which Jesus and his Mother are holding is the verse Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth after His forty days in the wilderness (Luke 4:16): "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...." (Isaiah 61:1-2) [more details...]
Code: I0421        £19.95  
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Virgin and Child, Axion Esti, Wooden Carved Icon, 22 x 30 cm       
Greek Orthodox Icon of Theotokos (Mother of God) - Axion Esti - "It is Truly Meet", Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 22 x 30 cm.

The original of the icon of the Mother of God called "Axion Esti", or "It is truly meet," is kept in the Holy Dormition Katholicon in Karyes, Mt. Athos. In the tenth century the Archangel Gabriel came in monastic clothes to a monk who was keeping vigil before this icon When the monk began to sing "More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify," the angel told him that the angelic choirs preface this with "It is truly meet and right to bless thee, Theotokos, ever-blessed all-pure Mother of our God."

Overwhelmed by the beauty of the song, the monk asked his visitor to write it down, which he did--inscribing it on a stone as if it were soft wax--then disappeared. It soon became the custom to sing this Angelic hymn at the most solemn and joyous moment of every liturgy, just after the Consecration. The scroll which Jesus and his Mother are holding is the verse Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth after His forty days in the wilderness (Luke 4:16): "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...." (Isaiah 61:1-2) [more details...]
Code: I0422        £27.95  
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Virgin and Child, Paramythia, Wooden Carved Icon, 18 x 24 cm       
Greek Orthodox Icon of Theotokos (Mother of God) of the type Paramythia - "Consolation", Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 22 x 30 cm.

This icon is a copy of a famous icon of the Virgin from Mount Athos that changed the position of Christ’s hand and her hand, as she wished to warn the monks at Vatopedi Monastery about impeding danger, and Christ indicated that they did not deserve this warning from her. It is also called the icon of “Comfort” and “Consolation” by the monks of the Holy Mountain.
Tradition at the monastery relates that as the abbot was handing over the keys of the monastery to the monk doorkeeper one morning, the Virgin spoke from the icon warning the abbot to not open the doors but have the monks climb up on the monastery’s walls to repel the pirates who had surrounded it. She repeated this again, and when the abbot turned towards the icon, the Holy Infant extended His hand to cover her mouth, indicating that they were bad monks, and maybe shouldn’t be saved, but the Virgin held His hand and warned the abbot again. The hands show the Virgin and the Lord not as it was painted, but as this miracle took place. [more details...]
Code: I0423        £19.95  
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Virgin and Child, Odigitria Panachrantos, Wooden Carved Icon, 18 x 24 cm       
Greek Orthodox Icon of Theotokos (Mother of God), of the type Odigitria or Hodegetria - "The Guide", Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 18 x 24 cm.

The All Pure Virgin Mary directs our love and attention to her Son and Lord Jesus Christ with her right hand, indicating to us that He is the “Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) The Lord sits serenely in the loving support of her left arm and blesses us with His hands, giving the blessing with His three fingers touching to represent the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and with two fingers raised to symbolize the two Natures of Christ, fully God and fully human. His forefinger is slightly bent to indicate the descent of God to earth as a man at the Incarnation. The Divine Infant holds a prophet’s scroll, for He is the fulfillment of the hope of the Prophets of Israel who looked most earnestly for His Day, the Day of the Lord. [more details...]
Code: I0424        £19.95  
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Virgin and Child, Glykophilousa, Wooden Carved Icon, 18 x 24 cm       
Greek Orthodox Icon of Theotokos (Mother of God) of the type Glykophilousa - "Sweet Kissing", Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 18 x 24 cm.

The theme of tender embrace embodied in this icon is very popular in icons of the Virgin Mary with her child, Jesus Christ. Here the Lord of Lord and King of Kings is, in His human nature, reaching out to all people dedicated to Him in their love of God, by tenderly placing His cheek next to the Virgin’s cheek, and reaching up to her face with His left hand. [more details...]
Code: I0425        £19.95  
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Virgin and Child, Glykophilousa, Bust, Wooden Carved Icon, 18 x 24 cm       
Greek Orthodox Icon of Theotokos (Mother of God) of the type Glykophilousa - "Sweet Kissing", Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 18 x 24 cm.

The theme of tender embrace embodied in this icon is very popular in icons of the Virgin Mary with her child, Jesus Christ. Here the Lord of Lord and King of Kings is, in His human nature, reaching out to all people dedicated to Him in their love of God, by tenderly placing His cheek next to the Virgin’s cheek. [more details...]
Code: I0426        £19.95  
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Virgin and Child, Glykophilousa, Bust, Wooden Carved Icon, 10 x 14 cm       NEW
Greek Orthodox Icon of Virgin and Child, Mother of God. Silk-screen printed image on sturdy composite wood, frame and background gilded with imitation gold-leaf, with hand-painted detail, with hook for wall hanging. Manufactured in Greece. Size 10 x 14 cm cm (4 x 5.5 inches). [more details...]
Code: I0429        £7.95  
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