Angels
Guardian Angel
After a 14th-century Byzantine model
Φύλακας Άγγελος
- Technique
- Egg tempera and gold leaf on wood
- Status
- Completed · private collection
Why this icon
I wanted to write an icon for my niece and goddaughter. Since she was only three years old, I wanted a colourful depiction; that is why I chose this representation of a modern Greek icon, painted after a 14th-century Byzantine model.
About this icon
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the angel is a servant of God and a protector of the individual. The icon serves as a reminder of the invisible presence of God and His angels alongside human beings.
The angel is therefore not merely depicted as a “decorative” winged figure. Its wings signify its heavenly nature, while its calm demeanour and forward movement evoke protection, guidance, and guardianship.
The gold background also holds special significance in the icon: the gold does not simply represent a landscape or a physical sky, but rather evokes divine light and the heavenly realm.