Aged-Wooden Byzantine Icon of Saint Irene, the Great Martyr.
Originally named Penelope, Saint Irene was the daughter of Prince Licinius, who secluded her in a tower when she was six years old. She embraced Christianity and was secretly baptized by Priest Timotheus, taking the name Irene.
When Licinius learned of her new faith commanded that she be trampled underfoot by horses. However, miraculously, the horse charged Licinius, mortally wounding him.
Saint Irene approached and prayed deeply that her father would be resurrected, as he was. Saint Irene traveled to many places, courageously declaring her faith and found herself in the hands of idolaters from whom she suffered terrible tortures. With her teacher, Apellian, she settled in Ephesus in Asia Minor where she worked miracles and did great charity work.
She died in 315 AD.
Apolytikion
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in 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 of Saint Irene is polished with a special varnish to withstand time.
Note: The final Icon may slightly differ from the catalog photo.
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