New icons made on Mount Athos, a secluded monastic state in northern Greece. Especially notable are icons painted on weathered wood, combined with wood carving that reaches back to centuries of Orthodox tradition.
New icons made on Mount Athos, like this Maria with nice ornamental carvings.
Mount Athos is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is only accessible to men with a special permit. The semi-autonomous monastic republic, located on a rugged peninsula in northern Greece, can only be reached by boat.
Anyone who overcomes these obstacles and has an interest in wood carving should make a point of seeing the iconostasis in the Protaton church from 1611. It is the oldest and most artistically significant preserved post-Byzantine wood carving on Mount Athos. The iconostasis is a masterpiece.
The iconostasis of the Protaton church
This religious work combines traditional Byzantine ornamentation with innovative relief techniques. It served as a model for later iconostases in the region: painted screens in Orthodox churches that symbolically mark the boundary between heaven and earth. They shield the altar, which may only be entered by clergy.
The iconostasis of the Protaton church in Karyes, carved in 1611.
This tradition is still very much alive within this monastic community of dozens of monasteries. Even more interesting is that the centuries-old tradition of wood carving itself is still thriving. The monks offer their works for sale on websites, at relatively modest prices.
Wood-carved crosses
In addition, they continue to create iconostases, church furniture, lecterns and ornaments.
A finely carved wooden cross from Mount Athos, showing miniature relief scenes.
Personally, I am most intrigued by the refinement with which wooden crosses are carved on Athos. The elaborate scenes are miniatures that bring to mind the famous prayer nuts carved by Dircksz in the Netherlands, now on display in the Rijksmuseum. I previously wrote about these small wonders on Wowwood.
Such classical works are not what I see for sale on the monks’ websites. The crosses that are offered, including those worn as pendants, are much more simply carved, yet still cost around 300 euros, such as the depiction of Saint Demetrius.
A modern wood-carved cross from Mount Athos, offered for sale by the monastic community.
On a weathered plank
I personally prefer a cheaper icon of Maria found on another website, painted on a beautifully weathered wooden plank. Above and below the painting, fragments of classical ornamentation are still visible, finished with gold leaf. Price: 198 euros.
This icon gives the impression of owning a fragment of the famous icon screen in the Protaton church. Even though, of course, it is not. And thankfully so.
The Gold of Mount Athos
A nice bonus for me while researching the icons of Mount Athos was the description of the production process on the (American) website Mount Athonite. Especially interesting because I saw how 22‑carat gold leaf is applied to the icons. It’s something I also do on almost every sculpture I make.
Jan Bom, Februar 9 2026.
