Rare, 1912, F. Fotopoulos, Samaritis, S. Christidis, Greek Folk Novel, First Edition

Rare Antique Greek Religious historical Novel 

Φ. Φωτόπουλου

Η Ψυχοκόρη της Παναγίας 

ΣΑΜΑΡΕΙΤΙΣ

Αγία Φωτεινή

F. Fotopoulos

The Virgin’s Foster Child

The Samaritan Woman

Saint Photini

Published by Anagnostopoulos-Petrakos in Athens in 1912

Cover by Sotirios Christidis

Printed by the Lithographic Print House of the Royal Court G. Stagel Athens

Paper Binding

719 Pages 

23 cm x 16 cm

First Edition

About the book: This novel is an exceptionally rare first edition and a unique example of early 20th-century Greek religious historical fiction. The book brings to life the story of Saint Photini the Samaritan Woman, a revered figure in the Orthodox Christian tradition.Saint Photini appears in the Gospel of John (Chapter 4) where she famously converses with Jesus at Jacob’s Well. This novel blends theological reflection, hagiography, and narrative fiction, offering readers both spiritual edification and a glimpse into the literary-religious culture of the era.

Sotiris Christidis (1858 – 1940) was a painter, lithographer and illustrator of popular folk novels. He was born in Thessaloniki in 1858. At the age of 20 he enrolled successively at the Medical School of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens, but he abandoned both and began his professional career at the design studio of the Hellenic Mining Company of Lavrio. During this period he met Karolos Haupt (1866 – 1937), from whom he learned the art of lithography, and Drakos (Dimitrios) Papadimitriou (1859 – 1940), from whom he was introduced to publishing. In 1904, he moved to Athens, where he established his studio. There he designed his famous illustrations on the theme of the battles of the Balkan Wars. His art was first recognized in 1938, with the exhibition organized by Dimitris Pikionis, dedicated to “the art of the Greek tradition”.