BYZANTINE ART. THEOTOKOS LARGE ARTIST ICON + FREE CD Start Price USD 300.00 Current Price USD 300.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, August 25, 2008 End Time Saturday, August 30, 2008 Location Bulgaria See more about 'BYZANTINE ART. THEOTOKOS LARGE ARTIST ICON + FREE CD' Description      My name is Rumen Spasov. I was born in 1968 in Bulgaria. After my graduation of the Orthodox Seminary " St. John Of Rila", Sofia in 1996, where I've studied theology and iconography, I devoted a great part of my life to the iconography art. I've been painting frescoes and icons for a lot of churches and exhibiting in the most prestigious galleries in my Country.  My works are owned by private collectors and believers throughout the whole world and especially in the US, where I've been living for 6 years. Now I'm sharing my time between Bulgaria and USA. In Bulgaria I serve as a deacon at the local church in my native town.         My work is known with its fine quality and deep spirituality, no matter if it is a large icon, miniature, or a Pascha egg. It is reach of color, with smoothly grading tones and fine straight lines. The miniatures and the eggs are very detailed and beautifully painted, even the small size. I work strongly in the old Byzantine style, as I naturally belong to that area and find, that as a style it is the most beautiful and represents most truely the Orthodoxy, with all its ancient symbols and spiritual meaning. Here I can say that the real icon must not be necessarily beautiful in the physical meaning, but most rather must have a strong spiritual impression, and this is the major difference between the byzantine iconography and the others, like the new russian and western iconographies which are picturing the icons so realistic, just like in any other painting, which makes it just a regular religious painting, but not an icon. The icon painting has its ancient rules unchanged for centuries which the iconographers must follow. The used media is egg tempera and all other materials and techniques are natural. The only exception is the use of oil varnish for the finish of the Pascha eggs which is used to get the beautiful shining surface.      The icon in this auction is with the image of the Mother and Child. The icon is called Hodigitria which means "Showing the Way". It's a very detailed and colorful icon. Its dimensions are approximately 16" (40 cm) high, 12" (30 cm) wide  and 3/4" (2cm) thick.  It is painted with egg tempera on a gessoed wood board. The background of the painting is gilded with gold leaf.       I paint my icons by the canon which is unchangeable for centuries. You can find a lot of false icons on ebay. Its very easy to make an icon to look like an antique one. When it's painted over an old wood and with the help of some chemicals it's very simple.  Mine are new ones, painted in the last half year. I can also say that the paper icons offered in hundreds on ebay and the internet sites are just pictures of icons. So, if you are a believer, its better to get a real canonic prayer icon. Also, the blessing of the icon is due to the customer, not to the iconographer or the seller, as I see they sell blessed icons, which is not right and I actually doubt if it's true. It is very important for the believer to bring his icon to the church for blessing, because he is going to have a personal relationship with the saint of the icon.        Before bidding, please take a look at my feedback. You can see more items of my work by clicking at   View seller's other items option.     I paint icons on a commission, but keep in mind that it is a long process. Depending of the complexity, sometimes it takes over a month.  Feel free to ask any questions.    When you buy an icon or one of my eggs, I'm going to be glad to send you a free CD with Bulgarian orthodox music as a gift for your support.     S&H charge for this item is $30 to the States and $20 to Europe. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase you can return it, and I will refund your money. Thank you for your interest and God bless !        Place a Bid!