~ The first Byzantine icon created entirely with plasticine. ~
Shën Krishtmbajtësi (St. Christopher)
St. Christopher, honored as a martyr and protector of travelers, is best known for the story of carrying the Christ Child across a perilous river, a symbol of strength and faith. In Byzantine iconography, especially in Albanian examples, he is sometimes depicted with the head of a dog. This unusual image derives from a linguistic misinterpretation of his origin: early sources described him as a Canaanite (Cananeus), which in Greek was confused with Cynocephalus (“dog-headed”). This error gave rise to the tradition of representing St. Christopher with a canine head in certain Eastern Christian artworks, making him one of the most distinctive figures in Byzantine iconography.
