"Christ the Same Throughout the Ages", acrylic on gesso board, 7x9 inch, Bishop Maxim, 2025

Drawing inspiration from the ancient Mandylion and the haunting realism of the Fayum portraits, this contemporary icon also resonates with the vibrant, post-Byzantine vision of Father Stamatis Skliris. Like Skliris, the artist uses bold acrylics, luminous contrasts, and fluid brushwork to translate sacred tradition into modern color and movement. The elongated face, frontal gaze, and vivid eyes echo the timeless immediacy of Fayum encaustics, while the saturated oranges, deep blues, and radiant yellows evoke the uncreated light of the Transfiguration. Tradition and innovation converge here, inviting viewers into a living encounter with Christ.