Painted Russian icon: Worthy of Existence, 12x11 in
Painted Russian icon: Worthy of Existence, 12x11 in.
At the end of the 10th century, near the Athos monastery of Kareya, a hermit living with his novice left for the night vigil, leaving the novice to read the prayer rule.
During the night, a stranger appeared at the hermitage entrance, whom the young man let in. Together, they began to sing prayers.
When it was time to celebrate the Most Holy Theotokos, the novice began to sing the prayer as generally accepted: "The most honorable Cherubim and ...
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Painted Russian icon: Worthy of Existence, 12x11 in.
At the end of the 10th century, near the Athos monastery of Kareya, a hermit living with his novice left for the night vigil, leaving the novice to read the prayer rule.
During the night, a stranger appeared at the hermitage entrance, whom the young man let in. Together, they began to sing prayers.
When it was time to celebrate the Most Holy Theotokos, the novice began to sing the prayer as generally accepted: "The most honorable Cherubim and the incomparably most glorious Seraphim...". At this point, the guest interrupted the young man and said that they did not address the Virgin in that way. So, after the verse just sung, he added "He is worthy to exist, truly, to bless You, Theotokos, always blessed and Immaculate, and Mother of our God" and then continued "The Honorable Cherubim...".
The monk then ordered the novice to always sing the song he had just heard with those exact same words.
So, to remember them, the young man asked the monk to write them down for him. However, as there was neither paper nor ink, the man wrote them with his finger on a stone, which suddenly became soft as wax, and after that, barely had time just to say his name that he immediately disappeared. His name was Gabriel.
When the elder monk returned, he was surprised to hear the young man recite such a beautiful prayer and as soon as he was told about the mysterious guest, he immediately understood that it was the Archangel Gabriel.
The news of the visit quickly spread among the Athonite monks until it reached Constantinople, where the prayer stone was also sent as evidence of the truth of what happened. Since then, the prayer "Worthy of Existence" has become an integral part of Orthodox services.
Subject: Worthy of Existence.
Origin: Golden Ring, Russia.
Technique: egg tempera.
Materials: wood panel internally reinforced to counter natural curvature, Levkas (a mixture of gypsum blended with sturgeon oil and linseed oil), gold leaf.
Year of production: 2023.
Dimensions: 12.2x10.6 in.
The icon is delivered in a case to ensure protection from impacts.
