Printed Icons
Printed paper icons, i.e, religious etchings given by Orthodox monasteries and pilgrimage sites to the devout as a “blessing,” are a particularly interesting aspect of the ecclesiastical iconography of Ottoman times
Printed paper icons, i.e, religious etchings given by Orthodox monasteries and pilgrimage sites to the devout as a “blessing,” are a particularly interesting aspect of the ecclesiastical iconography of Ottoman times. They are individual works (not published in books), the earliest of which are usually woodblock prints, with the later (after the early eighteenth century) being copperplate prints.
They usually depict either monasteries and sketes, drawing on the Renaissance prototypes of city images that adorned Western illustrated travelogues and pilgrimage guidebooks, or saints and religious scenes derived from the subject matter of traditional Orthodox iconography.
The purpose of these printed icons was to provide the devout with an illustrated record of the history of the monasteries and the miraculous events connected with the religious treasures they kept, and thus allow them to experience, even if only in their imagination, these holy establishments. Apart from their purely religious purpose, though, the printed engravings also served as appeals for financial contributions, which were essential to the survival of the monasteries, as inspiration for future pilgrimage journeys, and lastly as reminders of such a journey for those who had embarked upon it.
Sinai holds a prominent position in the history of printed icons. The monastery preserves the largest known collection of early woodblock printing blocks (seventeenth – early eighteenth century), as well as numerous copper plates (eighteenth – nineteenth century), almost all of which depict themes related to Sinai.
Moreover, the monastery also holds the correspondence of merchant Vourliotis Chatzikyriakis, who financed and oversaw the carving and printing of nine woodblock prints in Leopolis (Lvov) in Poland in 1688-1700. This cor- respondence provides unique insights into the production and circulation of printed icons, and offers us a glimpse of the warm reception that the audience of the time reserved for them. GGh
Keep Reading
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Scene from the story of king Abgar, and full-body saints This icon contains the oldest depiction of the …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
The Twelve Great Feasts The entire Twelve Great Feasts that usually adorn …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Ascension The composition of this icon contains some unusual …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Moses and Aaron This icon of Sinai depicts Moses on the …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Mother of God and Child, or “Kykkotissa” with Christ in Glory, prophets and saints The child is trying to regain its balance …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Menologion icon for the whole year Feast days of saints are listed in the …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Moses receiving the Law This scene is among the favorite themes of …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Apostle Peter A Constantinopolitan work of art, and one of …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Crucifixion with saints Christ on the cross is portayed naked here, …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Nativity The icon depicts the adoration of the shepherds …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Mother of God and Child This Virgin is a variation on the more …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
The Ladder of Divine Ascent Saint John of the Ladder, one of the …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Crucifixion Christ is suspended on the cross, between the …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Christ on throne Christ is identified as Emmanuel, the Word of …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Moses before the Burning Bush Moses is untying his sandal in front of …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Annunciation The composition highlights the Incarnation, focusing on the …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Saint Nicholas with other saints Saint Nicholas, one of the most favorite saints …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Mother of God seated between saints Theodoros and George The Mother of God, holding the Divine Infant …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Christ Pantokrator Christ stands in front of an apse, beyond …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Miracle at Chonai The miracle at Chonai is celebrated on September …
Byzantine Icons – Prophet Moses
Miracles of Saint Eustratius One of the earliest specimens of a templon …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Gospel cover This gospel was an offering of Matei Basarab, …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Sanctification cross with clock This cross was a precious personal possession of …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Reliquary-enkolpion cross Reliquary holders decorated with scenes from the Christological …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Mitre, offering of the Christians of Ioannina city This elaborate miter, in the shape of a …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Casket with engraved figures This casket in the shape of a basilica …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Church shaped casket, offering of Georgios, Bishop of Radauți (Moldavia) When the deacon is censing the church, he …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Steatite enkolpion with the Crucifixion (front) and the Virgin and Christ Child (back) Steatite is a soft stone that was used …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Chalice, gift of King Charles VI of France This luxurious chalice was a gift to Sinai …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Church shaped censer, offering of Roxandra Lăpuşneanu This censer is decorated with architectural forms which …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Prophet Elijah and Sinaitic Saints John Climacus and Anastasios of Sinai The three small icons incorporated onto the tripartite …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Triptych with reliquary - enkolpion This small, silver-gilt triptych with angels engraved on …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Panel showing Christ in Glory This item consists of a rectangular copper plate …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Benediction and Exaltation cross The populated scenes of the Dodecaorton, six on …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Mitre, offering of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovič Lavish vestments adorned with plates of gold and …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Gospel cover The story of this decorative cover is narrated …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
The Holy Bush On the upper part we find a depiction …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Enkolpion with bust of Christ between apostles and angels Glass casting cameos, used as substitutes for precious …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
High-priest enkolpion of bishop Theophanes It was customary for high-ranking priests to dedicate …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Panagiarion The Panagiarion is a vessel where the bread …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Lectionary cover A number of narrative scenes from Sinai tradition …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Lectionary cover A silver sheet with religious scenes is symmetrically …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Artoklasia for the blessing of the loaves The Artoklasia is a service held at the …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Lectionary case This silver-gilt case from Georgia was the offering …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Saint Catherine with scenes of her life and honor Saint Catherine is depicted accompanied by angels holding …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
The Holy Bush The Mother of God as Burning Bush with …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Chalice with embossed figures Form, iconography and style all indicate that this …
Ecclesiastical Metalwork, Miniature, Printed Icons
Sanctification cross The carved wooden core is decorated with the …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Saint Catherine, the Virgin of the Bush, and Moses The three emblematic figures of Sinai iconography are …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
The Mother of God of the Bush among four monastic saints of Sinai This is a unique work of art with …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
The Mother of God Hodegetria The Mother of God in her iconographic depiction …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Saint John the Baptist This icon must have been part of a …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
The Mother of God of the Bush among John the Baptist and Moses The icon belongs to the co-called “Crusader” group …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Crucifixion Double-sided icons are usually intended to be used …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
The Mother of God, the Bush and prophet Isaiah Prophet Isaiah on the left reverences the Mother …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Archangel Michael, Mother of God, Christ, and Archangel Gabriel Icons associated with worship, such as the icons …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Annunciation The central door of the Holy Bema, called …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
The Mother of God of Blachernae among Moses and Jerusalem Patriarch Euthymius II The Mother of God in her iconographic depiction …
Byzantine Icons – Theotokos (Mother of God)
Resurrection This icon belongs to the so-called “Crusader” icons …
Support St. Catherine's Monastery At God-trodden Mount Sinai
