Further reading
On Coptipedia, the Coptic encyclopedia (in French)
Certificate of authenticity
Delivered with your artwork
Your hand-painted icon comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Armia Elkatcha. It identifies your artwork, its dimensions, its number and its completion date.
- Artist
- Armia Elkatcha
- Artwork
- Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra
- Dimensions
- 90 × 130 cm
- Certificate number
- Assigned to your completed artwork
- Completion date
- Recorded upon completion
Armia Elkatcha’s signature
Signed by the artist on the certificate delivered with the artwork
Apostles, martyrs and saints
Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra
Unique and personalized icon by Armia Elkatcha. Size to choose. Be careful, the smaller the icon, the less detail the artist can insert into it. The photo corresponds to size XL.
Prices include French VAT at 5.5%
Hand-painted on request · Delivered in 2 to 4 months · Free delivery
'When you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.'
Gospel according to Saint Matthew 6:3-4
Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra, in Lycia (in the south of present-day Turkey), in the 4th century. Born in Patara into a wealthy Christian family, he gave his goods to the poor. Tradition tells that he secretly threw three purses of gold, at night, into the house of a ruined man to provide dowries for his three daughters and save them from poverty. It also presents him as the protector of sailors, whom he is said to have saved from a storm by his prayer, and as a defender of the faith of Nicaea. He died around the middle of the 4th century. Venerated in all the Churches, he is celebrated by the Coptic Church on 10 Koiak (19 December).
References: Matthew 6:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:2-3; John 10:11; Mark 4:39-41.
Studio journal
From preparing the support to the final details: the usual stages of a hand-painted icon.
Prepare the wood
The wooden support is prepared to receive the drawing, gold leaf and paint.
Draw the composition
The scene, figures and symbols are arranged according to the chosen representation and size.
Apply the gold leaf
Gilding brings light to the background and halos, in the tradition of the Coptic icon.
Paint the icon
Colours, garments and faces are painted by hand. The level of detail is adapted to the size of the artwork.
Finish and authenticate
The final details and finishing touches are completed. The artist signs the certificate bearing the artwork’s number and date.
