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The Great Feast Icons: The Life of our Lord Reading the Icons By Vasiliki Oldziey For the Antiochian Orthodox Department of Christian Education Time is suspended in icons, as it is in all services of the Church, so that we view the “eternal present.” This allows for a series of events taking place simultaneously in one icon to tell a more complete story. Icons of the Great Feasts do more than show an event, they tell a story. Icons of the same scene or feast can look very different. Some are more complex than others and have extra scenes to tell more of the story or to teach us about our faith. Icons teach us with images. Nativity of When the Theotokos is not in the center of the the icon, others present should have their heads Theotokos, bowed in reverence to direct our focus September towards her. 8 In more complex icons, three events unfold which tell the story of the birth of the Mother In simpler of God. One scene will show Joachim praying icons, just to God to remove the curse of childlessness. the main He converses with Archangel Gabriel, who event will be tells him that he and Anna will soon have a depicted: the child. In another scene Joachim and Anna birth of the embrace (the Conception of the Theotokos) Theotokos. and rejoice at the news that they will conceive Joachim will and soon have a child. be present, along with St. Anna, some attendants and the infant Mary. Traditionally, St. Anna’s garments are red or reddish‐purple. St. Joachim’s garments are St. Anna, who has given birth to Mary, the usually a green tunic (chiton) and red wrap Theotokos, reclines on a couch. She is in a (himation). The armband of gold on his meditative pose, pondering the miracle of this garment indicates someone of high status; he birth. The infant Mary will also be in the icon, was of the royal line of David. The garments wrapped in swaddling clothes and a wrap of of the visitors and the attendants will vary but rich red fabric. be of less vibrant hues than that of the main persons. Only St. Joachim, St. Anna, and the Visitors bringing gifts of oil and food remind Theotokos have halos. us of the Magi who visit Christ at his birth. Other maidens in the icon may be like the The action of this icon takes place inside a angels at Christ’s nativity or attendants at the building, which is indicated by the red fabric birth. draped from one building to another. Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 1 Elevation of the Presentation of Holy Cross, the Theotokos, September 14 November 21 The action in the At the center of icon of the this icon is the Elevation of the Theotokos and Holy Cross occurs behind her are indoors. However, her parents, Ss. in order to bring Joachim and this event into the Anna. In front of light, it is her, welcoming portrayed as an outdoor scene. St. Makarios, her to the the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who validated the temple is St. Zacharias, who is vested as the authenticity of the Cross stands on an ambo High Priest of the Temple. elevating the Cross of Christ. In the foreground to one side, usually to our left, is St. Helen who The Theotokos stands on a step, like a solea, led the pilgrimage to find the Life‐giving Cross. along with St. Zacharias. This indicates that She is easily recognized by her crown, royal their status is slightly elevated compared to garments, and halo. On either side of the the others in the icon. The Theotokos is robed ambo, groups of people who represent in a maphorion, the garment of a married Christians — bishops, monks, nuns and woman, which is usually a deep red purple. deacons who were in attendance — often have There are three eight‐pointed stars, one on their hands raised in prayer. each shoulder and one at her forehead, which represent her everlasting virginity. She is also Because icons are often written with simple seen in the upper corner being fed by the differences, they can include various figures Archangel Gabriel, as though she were depending on the artist. St. Helen’s son, the enthroned. In both depictions, she wears the emperor Constantine, who built the church maphorion of a married woman, yet she is where the cross was found, is sometimes small like a child. This reminds us that even featured along with his mother. Other though she is a child, she is spiritually mature. believers and deacons in attendance might be seen with their hands raised in prayer. Ss. Joachim and Anna stand with their hands outstretched as though they are urging her In the background of most, the Church of the forward and presenting her to St. Zacharias. Holy Sepulchre is featured. St. Helen and St. The maidens who lead the procession that Constantine wear the rich, jeweled, red brings the Theotokos to the temple wear no garments of royalty. St. Makarios is vested as a veils, indicating they are unmarried young bishop, wearing a phelonion with the women, and carry candles to light the way. cruciform pattern and an omophorion, the white scarf with three crosses on it draped The action takes place indoors. The canopy or around his shoulders. The garment colors of ciborium behind and above the head of the others in the icon vary and may depict Zacharias would be above the altar. It may their role in life, i.e. brown for nuns and monks. represent the Temple at Jerusalem or its “Holy of Holies.” Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 2 Nativity of Christ, wear crowns, emphasizing their roles as December 25 kings, or hats, emphasizing their roles as wise men. They represent the learned classes who The details of this must journey far in order to find icon are based on enlightenment and also the Gentiles, who will Matthew 1:18‐25 welcome Christ. If they are shown on horses, and 2:1‐12, and this indicates that they have reached the stage Luke 2:6‐20. of spiritual discipline and can control their animal impulses. If they are kneeling at the The icon is manger, they are contemplating “the Son of arranged into righteousness.” They each bear one of the three rows and gifts: gold, the symbol of kingship; three columns, each depicting a different part frankincense, the symbol of the priesthood; or of the Nativity story. The upper row focuses myrrh, embalming oil. on the descent of the divine, the middle row concentrates on the revelation to the world, The shepherds represent the common people and the lower row ponders the nature of the who often receive immediate enlightenment event. At the center of the icon are the Virgin directly from angels. They also represent and child, highlighted against a dark cave in a those of the Jewish nation who will welcome mountain. Christ. They are a counterpoint to the educated and wealthy Magi and remind us The Theotokos, in her red purple maphorion, that Christ came to save us all. can be depicted either reclining or sitting on a mattress. A reclining posture shows that she The Righteous Joseph ponders the virgin birth is weary from childbirth, which teaches us of Christ. In some icons there is an old man that the Incarnation was real, and the birth conversing with him, who may represent proceeded in a natural manner. A sitting pose Satan encouraging Joseph’s doubts or a conveys that the birth was without the usual shepherd bringing him news of Christ’s birth. pains of childbirth. Midwives, symbolizing the reality of God becoming man, are depicted bathing Christ. The newborn Jesus lies in the manger in white swaddling clothes. He may be either awake or Animals in an icon have significance. For asleep. The black cave represents the shadow instance, lambs were raised for sacrifice in the of death, which has ruled the world until now. Temple at Jerusalem and symbolizes the role His swaddling clothes and the manger Christ will play as the ultimate sacrificial foreshadow His death and His lying in the lamb. In the cave behind the manger, an ox tomb after the Crucifixion. The manger also and an ass (or horse in some icons) warm the symbolizes an altar bearing the Bread of Life infant with their breath. This fulfills the received in the Eucharist. prophecy of Isaiah 1:3. St. Gregory of Nyssa interprets their presence as the ox The mandorla, the half circle at the top of the representing those tied down by the law and icon, represents the manifestation of the Holy the ass carrying the burden of idolatry. The Trinity. animals are freed from these yokes by the Christ child resting before them. The angels unite heaven and earth and bring the good news to the shepherds that the Christ has been born. The Magi can either Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 3 Theophany, Opposite St. John, angels stand in reverence as January 6 they wait to serve Christ. Their hands are often covered as a sign of humility and This feast was once veneration. At the top of the icon is a celebrated along with mandorla with a ray beaming forth and a dove the feast of the surrounded by a circle, representing the Holy Nativity of Christ. Trinity. They were both seen as a “showing forth of In some Theophany icons there is an ax in a God,” or, in Greek, a tree near St.

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