The Epitaph icon, Jesus Christ icon Good Friday Handmade Greek Orthodox icon, Byzantine art wall hanging wood plaque icon, religious gift

In this handmade lithography with double varnish to ensure waterproof properties and long lasting in time, we have the representation of the Epitaph / Epitathios . Following the event of Jesus on the cross of martyrdom with Virgin Mary staring at Her Son with agony and deep pain because of His suffering on the cross for the sake of mankind.

The Epitaphios (Greek: Επιτάφιος, epitaphios, or Επιτάφιον, epitaphion; Slavonic: Плащаница, plashchanitsa; Arabic: نعش, naash) is an icon, today most often found as a large cloth, embroidered and often richly adorned, which is used during the services of Great Friday and Holy Saturday . It also exists in painted or mosaic form, on walls or panels.

The icon depicts Christ after he has been removed from the cross, lying supine, as his body is being prepared for burial. The scene is taken from the Gospel of St. John 19:38-42. Shown around him, and mourning his death, may be his mother (the Theotokos; John the beloved disciple; Joseph of Arimathea; and Mary Magdalene, as well as angels. Nicodemus and others may also be depicted. Sometimes, the body of Christ appears alone, except for angels, as if lying in state.[1] The oldest surviving embroidered icon, of about 1200 (Venice) is in this form. The equivalent subjects in the West are called the "Anointing of Christ's body", or Lamentation (with a group present), or the PietΓ , with just Christ held by Mary.