Hand-painted Byzantine icon of Evangelist Luke painting the icon of Panagia Soumela, made in Mount Athos, on natural wood. The icon is delivered in a wooden box.
The Evangelist Luke is regarded as the first iconographer in the Orthodox Church, who created the first icons of the Theotokos. At one point, he sought the permission of the Mother of God to depict her, and she consented, blessing his work. With the assistance of the Archangel Michael, who provided him with three pieces of wood, the Evangelist Luke painted three icons. In the first icon, he portrayed the Most Holy Theotokos alone, without the Divine Child. This icon, known as the Theotokos Soumela, is preserved to this day in the Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela on Mount Vermion, near Veria. Of the other two creations, one is located at the Monastery of Kykkou in Cyprus, and the other at the Monastery of the Great Cave (Mega Spilaio).
