Guardian of the Redeemer
Hand-painted icon of Saint Joseph
Foster father of Jesus, husband of Mary, patron of the universal Church, of workers and of fathers. Saint Joseph is a subject of deep devotion, and Concetta Basile's atelier has devoted one of its most significant works to him.
Saint Joseph the Nourisher: a newly conceived icon
Among Concetta Basile's works, the icon of Saint Joseph the Nourisher, commissioned by Archimandrite Father Alessio Mandanikiotis of the Orthodox Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, is an example of faithfulness to Tradition and spiritual creativity: a newly conceived icon showing Joseph as the one who nourishes and protects the Son of God.
Creating a new icon does not mean inventing freely: it requires knowledge of canons, gestures, colours and theology, so that the new image can be recognised and prayed with as authentic.
How Saint Joseph is depicted
- Elderly, bearded, in simple garments: the just man of the Scriptures.
- Holding the Child or standing beside the Mother of God.
- With the flowering staff, sign of his election, or with carpenter's tools.
- In festal icons: the Nativity, the Flight into Egypt, the Presentation in the Temple.
Saint Joseph with the Child
Oval icon from the atelier, here placed above a cradle.
Saint Joseph in the Holy Family
Joseph wraps the Mother of God and the Child in his mantle.
Who it is a fitting gift for
The Saint Joseph icon is a traditional gift for those who bear his name (feast day 19 March), for a new father, for Father's Day, for a craftsman or for someone starting a business. Religious communities and parishes dedicated to Saint Joseph often commission it in large format.
Frequently asked questions
What does «Nourisher» mean?
From the Latin nutritor, the one who feeds and raises: Joseph is the guardian who brought up and protected Jesus. The title is ancient and highlights his fatherhood.
Can a parish commission a Saint Joseph icon?
Yes. For churches and communities, size, inscriptions and placement are studied together with the parish priest or community, also as a collective gift from the faithful.