Virgin Hodegetria, Christmas Issue 16th Century Icons, Republic of Cyprus

Virgin Hodegetria, Christmas Issue 16th Century Icons, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

The icon of the Virgin Hodegetria comes from the Church and Monastery of St. Savva near Prastio village in Paphos. According to an inscription over the west door, the church was re-built in 1501 and again restored during the first half of the 18th century. The icon is part of the plain carved iconostasis, which considering its age, is in an excellent state of preservation. What is of great interest is the fact that it is dated 1521, and was the work of the known painter Titus who also painted other icons such as the one in the Church of the Virgin Chrysoseleoussa at Emba. The icon is now housed in the Byzantine Museum of the Paphos Bishopric. There exists a letter from 1486, written by Abbot Gerasimos to King James II of Cyprus informing the King of the calamity, which befell the monastery on December 7th, when struck by lightning it was destroyed by fire (excepting the Church) and all the wheat and barley was burnt. Since the monastery contributed to the King's revenue nine bushels of wheat and sixteen of barley, he was beseeching His Majesty that this wheat and barley be given to the monastery to help them rebuild and renew the buildings. The king remitted this tithe of wheat and barley, in perpetuity, on condition that Masses were ever held for his soul.
(Extract from: R. Gunnis, Historic Cyprus p.404/5)

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology

3rd December 1990

Designer: S. Yiassemides

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Image

1990-CHRISTMAS-15C

35.160417, 33.346556

Alex Matsoukis, Athens