The Story Behind This Icon:
In the year 1462, during the Turkish Ottoman occupation, the Monastery of Taxiarches on Lesvos, Greece was attacked by pirates who threatened the monks with death if they did not reveal the whereabouts of the hidden villagers. The monks refused and the invaders slaughtered them all except for one, Gabriel, who remained hidden. The pirates noticed him from afar and returned to kill him, but the Archangel Michael appeared and with his own sword, forced them to retreat in terror.
The monk survived and gathered up the earth that was red from the blood of the martyred monks and shaped it into the icon of the Archangel as it is today, while it was still vivid in his memory. According to legend, the monk did not have enough of the dirt-blood mix and so the head of the Archangel has turned out disproportionately larger to the rest of his body. Centuries have passed and the Icon of the Archangel Michael is still venerated by thousands of pilgrims every year.
The original icon is now kept in the interior of the church in the Monastery of Taxiarchis, Mantamados, on the island of Lesvos, Greece. Many islanders and pilgrims have had personal experiences of miracles granted for them by the icon. This is evident by the numerous gifts housed inside the church.
Work of the iconographer Lazaros Pechlivanidis.
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This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.
All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.
Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.
Our most popular dimensions are pictured, to scale.
Depending on the size and theme, Holy Icons are available in both Recessed and Level styles.
RECESSED
The groove in our recessed icons adds depth to the Iconography, making the icon even more dramatic and impressive. In order to keep the relative proportions, the depth of the groove changes with the size of the Holy Icon.
LEVEL
Level icons allow the Iconography to retain its boldness even in smaller sizes. As such most of our level icons have smaller dimensions.
Backside details vary with icon size and serve to ensure that your Holy Icon will stand the test of time.
Solid wooden icons of larger dimensions are prone to bending and damaging as time passes. Fortunately, our Holy Icons are supported by two additional, horizontal wooden protective panels on the backside. These panels bolster the icon and allow it to sustain its shape, ensuring that your Holy Icon will remain in its original, pristine condition as it is passed down from generation to generation.
Icons of smaller dimensions are naturally sustainable over time, and experience less structural stress. As such, you will find that the backside of smaller Holy Icons is flat and proportional to their shape.
