Icon of the Mother of God Lakoschitiotisa

This icon represents the Mother of God "Lacoschitiotisa" — a title related to the venerated icon located at the Lacu Hermitage on Mount Athos, known in the hesychast tradition for its silent protection and intercession over monks and pilgrims.

The work is made using the electroforming technique, a post-industrial refinement method originally used in 19th-century workshop goldsmithing. The metallic relief, with an almost numismatic precision, evokes votive medals or liturgical pediments of the neo-Byzantine era. The halos are gold-plated, and the faces of the Mother and Child are hand-painted in oil, giving the icon an intimate aura, both sacred and humanizing.

The massive frame, made of hand-oxidized oak, gives the ensemble a gravity specific to ecclesiastical pieces intended for Athonite cells. The protective glass frames the image without diminishing it — suggesting a contemplative distance, typical of cult objects kept in private collections.

This piece is not just an act of devotion, but a testimony to the continuity of sacred art in the post-craft era, situated at the intersection of spirituality, technique, and the living memory of the Athonite tradition.