Aged-Wooden Byzantine Icon of Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea.
Saint Basil the Great was originally from Cappadocia and came from an educated family, a practise which he also adopted in Constantinople and Athens. After the death of his monk brother, Naucratios, he was baptized a Christian and over the years reached the position of Bishop.
Saint Basil's main concern was taking care of the problems of the people and the right pastoral work. He became a role model of charity and Christian ethics for the people of the East who were plunged into sorrow with his death in AD 379.
His name is linked to the custom of "Vasilopita" which Christians observe every New Year's Eve. According to the story, Julian demanded that the people of Caesarea give up their precious gold as tribute and so they did. But he was killed in battle before he could receive those tribute.
Then, after keeping half of it for the needs of the poor, Saint Basil the Great ordered the inhabitants to make bread in which he placed a piece of gold. He then distributed them to each family so that everyone would be compensated for what they had lost. This was the first "Vasilopita".
Apolytikion
Your voice resounded throughout the world that received your word by which, in godly manner, you taught dogma, clarified the nature of beings, and set in order the character of people. Venerable father, Royal Priesthood, intercede to Christ God to grant us great mercy.
The aging technique is meticulously applied to the Icon by hand and gives it the look of time while the depiction retains its artistic details.
Around the perimeter, the aging becomes more apparent with frayed edges that give the Icon a distinctive appearance.
During the final processing, the Aged-Wooden Icon Saint Basil the Great is polished with a special varnish to withstand time.
Note: The final Icon may slightly differ from the catalog photo.
Feast: January 1
Iconographer: Monk Gervasios, Mount Athos
Availability: Made to order, usually ships within 5 to 10 days.
