SEPTEMBER 1994 – A mosaic shows Virgin Mary with the Child (Theotokos) at the Panagia tis Spilianis, the most important pilgrimage site on the island of Nisiros, Greece. Photo: Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
A while ago I shared our experience visiting Stefanos Crater on the island of Nisiros in Greece.
We also spent some time exploring the town of Mandraki and walked all the way up to Panagia tis Spilianis, the most important pilgrimage site on the island. Here I spatured this beautiful mosaic showing Virgin Mary with the Child (Theotokos).
Mosaics are among the oldest and most important forms of artistic expression in the Orthodox world. As early as the 4th–6th centuries AD, they adorned the great Byzantine churches (e.g., Hagia Sophia in Constantinople). They served not only as decoration, but primarily as a means of conveying the faith in a largely illiterate society.
I can’t say whether this is really a historic mosaic or a modern one, but I love like the peaceful, innocent mood I feel when I watch it.
Magical.
P.S.: Today, the mosaic is located right below the bell tower which has been donated in August 2007.
Design ideas
The high resolution image
| Capture Date | September 1994 |
| Location | Mandraki, Nisiros, Greece |
| Camera | Canon AE-1 Program |
| Image Source | Slide Film |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 3910 x 5273 Pixels |
| Copyright | © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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