Russian icon Worthy of Existence painted 31x27 cm
Russian icon Worthy of Existence painted 31x27 cm. At the end of the 10th century, near the monastery of Athos Kareya, a hermit who lived with his novice absented himself to go to the night vigil, leaving the novice to read the prayer rule. As night fell, a stranger showed up at the entrance to the hermitage and the young man let him in. Together, the two began to chant prayers. When it was time to celebrate the Most Holy Theotokos, the novice began to chant the prayer as it was generally accept...
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Russian icon Worthy of Existence painted 31x27 cm. At the end of the 10th century, near the monastery of Athos Kareya, a hermit who lived with his novice absented himself to go to the night vigil, leaving the novice to read the prayer rule. As night fell, a stranger showed up at the entrance to the hermitage and the young man let him in. Together, the two began to chant prayers. When it was time to celebrate the Most Holy Theotokos, the novice began to chant the prayer as it was generally accepted: ''The most honorable Cherub and the most glorious Seraphim beyond compare...''. Whereupon the guest interrupted the young man and said that they did not call the Virgin that way and so, to the verse just sung, he added ''It is worthy of existing, truly, to bless You, Theotokos, ever blessed and Immaculate, and Mother of our God'' and then continues ''The Honorable Cherubino...''.The monk therefore ordered the novice to always sing the song he had just heard with those words.So, to remember them, the young man asked the monk to write them down for him. However, as there was no paper or ink, the man wrote them with his finger on a stone which suddenly became soft as wax and, after that, he barely had time to say his name before he immediately disappeared. His name was Gabriele. When the old man returned, he was surprised to hear the young man utter such a beautiful prayer and as soon as he was told about the mysterious guest, he immediately understood that it was the Archangel Gabriel.The news of the visit spread rapidly among the Athonite monks until it reached Constantinople, where the prayer slab was also sent as proof of the veracity of what had happened. Since then, the prayer ''Worthy to Exist'' has become an integral part of Orthodox services. Subject: Worthy of existingProvenance: Golden Ring of Moscow-RussiaTechnique: egg temperaMaterials: wooden board internally reinforced to counteract the natural curvature, Levkas (gypsum compound mixed with sturgeon oil and linseed oil), gold leafYear of production: 2023Measurements: 31x27 cm.The icon is enclosed in a case that ensures its protection from impacts.
