Saint Athanasios of Meteora

Orthodox icon of Saint Athanasios of Meteora on thick plywood 20mm, which does not sting and keeps its shape over time. Preparation with acrylic stucco and have been used acrylic colors. It has been covered with varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon. 

St. Athanasios was born in Hypátē, in 1302, from a wealthy family. He lost his parents in a very young age and his uncle took over his upbringing. After the capture of his hometown by the Catalans in 1318, the chief of the Franks took Athanasios into his home. At the first opportunity, he escaped and rejoined with his uncle and went to Thessaloniki. His uncle died at the Akapniou Monastery from a chronic joint disease. Athanasios then went to live with the imperial secretary of the military command, who became his guardian for a short time. When he was 17 years old he traveled to Mount Athos, made his way to Constantinople and traveled to Crete in 1325 where he stayed for a certain time and lived as an ascetic. He returned to Mount Athos in 1332 and was tonsured into the Great Shcema. Due to the predatory incursions of the Turks he was forced to leave Mount Athos and went to the Thessalian rocks of Stagoi, and settled on the rock of Stylos. After a certain period of time he withdrew to a cave in the rock. Seeking even more seclusion and serenity, he selected another rock, where he went in the year 1340, this time for good. The rock is the so-called Platylithos, which he called Meteoron. There he built his ascetic refuge and organized the first systematic monastic community with a strict cenobitic Rule. The brotherhood had 14 members and they built the church of the Mother of God. He built another church in honor of the Transfiguration of Christ, which later became the katholikon of the Monastery. He reposed peacefully at the age of 78 in 1380. His feast day is on April 20.