sign in sign up
<<
Home , Christ Child, Mandorla, The Nativity Story

The Great Feast : 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 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 praying icons, just to God to remove the curse of childlessness. the main He converses with , 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 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 . 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 at his birth. Other maidens in the icon may be like the The action of this icon takes place inside a at Christ’s 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 :18‐25 welcome Christ. If they are shown on horses, and 2:1‐12, and this indicates that they have reached the stage :6‐20. of spiritual discipline and can control their animal impulses. If they are kneeling at the The icon is , 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 , the symbol of the priesthood; or of the Nativity story. The upper row focuses , 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 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. John’s feet. This recalls St. John’s theophany. The celebration of Christ’s warning that “every tree which does not bear baptism may actually be of greater good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” significance because, as St. John Chrysostom Matthew 3:10 wrote, “Not through His birth did He become known to all, but through His Baptism. Before Presentation of the day of Baptism, He was not known to the Christ, February 2 people.” In His baptism, God as Three‐in‐One, the Holy Trinity, was revealed to man. This feast takes place forty days Christ, at the very center of the icon, stands in after Christ’s birth. the River Jordan, clothed in a white loincloth. In the icon, Christ is He may bow slightly or gesture toward St. held by St. , (or Forerunner) to His right. who stands on the This indicates that He has freely chosen to be solea, slightly baptized and make His will one with the elevated. St. Anna Father’s. With His right hand Christ blesses the Prophetess and the waters, which He sanctifies by His own the Theotokos look on. Sometimes St. Anna is immersion. behind and to the right of St. Simeon. This event takes place in the temple, which is St. John the Baptist extends his right hand indicated by the canopied altar. toward the head of Christ in the ritual gesture of baptizing. He is usually dressed in animal According to the Law of Moses, forty days skin, camel’s hair, and a cloth wrap. The after a woman gives birth to a male child, she animal skin may be a blue‐green and the wrap is to bring him “to the priest at the door of the an ochre‐gold. tent of meeting.” The family offers either a year‐old lamb, two pigeons or two The shape of the River Jordan indicates a cave turtledoves. St. Joseph carries two or tomb encompassing the outline of Christ’s turtledoves. One is a burnt offering given in body. His immersion echoes His death. The praise of God, the other is a sin offering for land and mountains on either side, curve any sins committed unintentionally or around to suggest a cave. They are usually of innocently by the mother. This ritual is the red, gold, or green ochre hues. Often, the mother’s purification. icons show a man and a woman riding sea creatures. The man represents the River The other Law of Moses fulfilled in this icon is Jordan, which was parted and crossed by the command to consecrate to God every first‐ Elisha, and the female figure represents the born child. This ritual reminds the Israelites Red Sea, which Moses led the Israelites across. Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 4 that God spared their first‐born during the as he carries the two turtledoves as offerings. plagues in Egypt. All five saints have haloes.

Even as an infant, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is portrayed alert, aware, and mature , for His years. He is robed as the Teacher March 25 when in His red tunic (chiton) with the blue cloak (himation)and as Christ Emmanual This icon when in the gold chiton. commemorates the day Archangel St. Simeon holds Christ in his hands as though Gabriel brings the he has just received Him. His hands are good news to the covered as an act of humility and veneration. Theotokos that Simeon wears the plain and simple garments she will give birth of a prophet. He has long, unkempt, white to God. The word hair, and the long beard of the prophets, who Annunciation were ascetics and lived simply. The Elder means “announcing the good news.” There Simeon was one of the seventy scholars who are only two people in this icon, Archangel translated the Holy Scriptures of the Old Gabriel and the Theotokos. Occasionally, a Testament into Greek. We know this work as third person is shown, usually a young the Septuagint. He was told that he would not maiden assisting Mary with the spinning of die until he had seen Christ born of a fabric. pure and spotless virgin. In a vision, Simeon the God‐Receiver was told to go to the temple The event takes place indoors with Mary to meet the Lord. He recognizes Christ as the either sitting on or standing near a throne‐like Lord God and sings the following hymn: seat. She is dressed in the garments of a modest married woman with a red purple Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, outer garment (himation) and a blue inner according to Your word, tunic (chiton). She also has the three eight‐ for my eyes have seen Your salvation, pointed stars on her himation. One star is at a Light to lighten the Gentiles, her forehead and the other two are on her the Glory of Your people Israel. shoulders reminding us of her ever‐lasting virginity. She is often depicted spinning wool The Theotokos wears her blue chiton and red to be used for the Temple curtain, which will purple maphorion which covers her hands as be torn in half during the Crucifixion. She a sign of humility and veneration. often appears slightly retreating in surprise and humility at the appearance of Archangel St. Anna wears a red tunic and green wrap. Gabriel. She holds a scroll with the inscription, “This child has created heaven and earth.” As a Archangel Gabriel, whose name means “God is widow, she spent her days in the temple in mighty,” approaches Mary with the right‐hand prayer and fasting, serving the Lord. blessing and holding either a staff, the symbol of a messenger, or a scroll, indicating the good St. Joseph wears simple clothing of any color. news, in his left hand. Gabriel’s garment He should always be portrayed with white colors may vary. hair and beard to show his advanced years. His hands are also covered to show humility, Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 5

At the top of the icon we see a mandorla, the To the left in the background is the Mount of semi‐circle with a ray of light shining on the Olives and to the right is the city of Jerusalem. Theotokos. The mandorla represents God Inside the walled city, the domed building in with the darkest part of the mandorla the center represents the Temple. Between expressing the unknowable God. The ray the two, a child climbs a tree, possibly to chop represents the coming upon the branches to lay at Christ’s feet or to get a Theotokos. better view.

This event marks the beginning of our Christ’s entry into Jerusalem signals the salvation as Mary humbly responds, “Behold establishment of the heavenly Kingdom on the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me earth. He comes as the King of Glory, as the according to thy word.” Luke 1:38 Bridegroom wed to the Church, bringing together the heavenly and earthly.

Palm Sunday: The Entry into Pascha: The Jerusalem Resurrection of (moveable feast) Christ (moveable feast) This feast takes place immediately Pascha, the “Feast after the raising of of Feasts,” is of Lazarus, one week such great before Pascha. At significance that it the very center of is not included in this icon, Christ the 12 Great Feasts sits on a donkey. Dressed as a teacher or but stands alone as philosopher and sitting sidesaddle, Christ the reason for all the other feasts of the comes not as a conqueror, but in humility as Church. one coming to serve. With His right hand, He blesses, and with His left hand He holds a There are at least four variations of this icon, scroll, symbolic of His . Usually, Christ but in all of them Christ, at the very center of is the only one with a halo as the apostles the icon, lifts Adam out of his tomb by his have not yet been illumined, which will wrist. The mandorla behind him expresses happen at Pentecost. His glory, divinity, and events unseen by any living human. It represents the light of Christ Behind Christ we see the apostles and in front glowing forth from concentric bands of light; the people of Jerusalem coming out of the city with the darkest at the center and each band gates. Some of the adults carry palm branches becoming brighter and lighter than the one as though welcoming a conqueror. Children, before. Christ’s inner tunic (chiton) and outer the only ones who greet Christ with pure joy, wrap (himation) are bright white, like pure place palm branches and spread garments on light. A gold stripe, or clavus, begins at his the ground before Christ, a welcome for a shoulder and goes down one side. This was king. This reminds us that Christ told us to be worn by persons of high rank during Christ’s as little children to enter the kingdom of time on earth. Christ’s garments float around heaven. Him to indicate movement and action.

Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 6

Christ stands astride the two broken gates of Hades. The old man in chains personifies Ascension Death despoiled. He lies at the bottom of a (moveable dark pit. feast)

In some Resurrection icons, Adam is at This feast takes Christ’s right and Eve at Christ’s left. Christ place exactly 40 holds them both by their wrists, showing days after Christ’s mercy which saves them. The color of Christ’s their garments may vary but are usually Resurrection. bright. During this time, Christ To Christ’s right and slightly behind him is St. appears to His John the Forerunner, who preached Christ’s disciples, eating coming. Next to St. John are Kings David and with them, instructing them, and showing Solomon, who remind us that Christ is of the them the evidence of His Crucifixion and His line of David. Resurrection. We read the account of Christ’s Ascension in Luke 26:49‐53 and Acts 1:1‐12. The Righteous Abel, who like Christ was a shepherd, may be on either side, slightly The apostles have been called together at Mt. behind Christ. As the first innocent victim of Olivet, where Christ instructs them to wait in sin and death, he is present to witness Christ Jerusalem for a few days more, when the Holy conquer death. Spirit will come upon them. After this, Christ ascends to heaven in a cloud. The icon may include other Old Testament figures, usually prophets such as Enoch, Isaiah The composition of this icon has Christ at the and Samuel. Some will have halos and others upper center portion of the icon, sitting in the will not. Occasionally there may be angels center of the mandorla. He sits on arched carrying the Cross, the spear, and the lance bands of a rainbow and is robed in either with the sponge, the symbols of Christ’s bright white or gold garments. Crucifixion. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a The action takes place in Hades between two throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. mountains, calling to mind the composition of And He who sat there was like a jasper and a the Theophany icon, where Christ’s baptism is sardius stone in appearance; and there was a the beginning of the cleansing and rainbow around the throne, in appearance like illumination of creation. an emerald. (Rev 4:2‐3) This icon, also known as “The Harrowing of Hades,” does not portray an event that was To either side of Him are angels with arms witnessed; rather, it is a teaching icon — a outstretched as though supporting and lifting visual representation of the Paschal the mandorla. His right hand extends in Troparion: blessing and His left hand holds a scroll, which “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down indicates His wisdom. death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” The Theotokos, dressed in her usual dark red maphorion and blue chiton, stands in the Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 7 lower portion of the icon. Appearing calm and The image is divided into three parts. In the at peace, she stands on an elevated platform upper portion, the heavenly realm from which to emphasize her important place in our the Holy Spirit descends, we see half of a salvation. Behind and to either side of her two mandorla, God’s glory, and twelve rays of light angels in white look at the apostles and streaming down upon the apostles. In some gesture towards heaven to remind them that versions, the tongues of fire are at the ends of Christ will come again. the rays of light. In other icons the tongues of fire are just at the tops of the apostle’s heads To the left and right of the Theotokos and the or within their newly received halos. angels are the disciples, six on each side. Although historically not present at the The middle section of the icon contains the Ascension, St. Paul replaces Judas in this icon, twelve apostles sitting in a semi‐circle. St. providing us with a mystical representation of Paul is included, even though historically he the Church. The apostles, who display awe was not in the upper room, reminding us that and some confusion in contrast to the peace this gathering represents the whole Church, and calm of the Theotokos, do not have halos the eternal present. Peter and Paul sit yet, as they have yet to be illumined. The opposite of one another with the empty seat colors of their garments are varied and bright. between them. The arrangement of the rest of the apostles is not necessarily in age order, If you were to look on this icon for the first but the two youngest apostles are at the time not knowing what it is about, you would bottom of the arrangement. All are not be wrong to wonder, “Is Christ ascending considered equal and united and yet diverse or descending?” This is purposeful, to remind as is the Church. Therefore, their garments us that Christ will come again in glory. are of varied colors. All hold either scrolls, because they spread the Word of God or “He is coming with clouds, and every eye will representing the they will write. see Him, even they who pierced Him.” Rev. 1:7 The empty seat is sometimes interpreted as Pentecost (The being invisibly occupied by the Holy Spirit. Descent of the Some icons place the Holy Theotokos sitting Holy Spirit) in this seat of honor because she was present (moveable feast) at the time of the descent of the Holy Spirit and she is the ultimate example of a Christian. This feast takes place exactly fifty In the lower portion of the icon, in the dark days after Christ’s archway, an old man wearing a crown holds a Resurrection and linen cloth with twelve scrolls. He represents is based on Luke’s the world or, in Greek, the Cosmos. His crown account in the Acts represents the rule of sin in the world; he is of the Apostles. old because sin has aged him; and his royal After the Ascension, Christ instructed His garments are red from the blood of sacrifices apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they made to idols. The dark behind him is the received power from on high. They gathered world engulfed by sin and devoid of God’s in the upper room, ten days after the revelation. The twelve scrolls represent the Ascension of Christ, in one accord, praying teachings that the apostles will take to the and in supplication. different regions of the earth.

Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 8

Transfiguration, In the bottom portion, John is always in the August 6 center, with Peter and James on either side. Their garments reflect the light shining on The feast of the them. They shade their eyes from the light Transfiguration of and fall to the ground, their garments in our Lord on Mt. motion with them. John’s one sandal is often Tabor recalls the shown falling off his foot. Only Christ, Elijah, time Christ took and Moses will have halos. three of the disciples, James, The bright mountains reflect the light coming John, and Peter, to from Christ. However, the colors of the Mt. Tabor where He transfigured before them mountains Elijah and Moses stand on will revealing His Divine self. The Greek word for usually be green which offsets the warmer transfiguration is “metamorphosis,” which yellow ochre of Mt. Tabor. means “a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, At the Transfiguration, as at Theophany, there by natural or supernatural means.” is a revelation of the Holy Trinity. This is only the second time in the life of Jesus where all The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the three persons of the Trinity reveal themselves Epistle Second Peter all record this moment at once. God the Father’s voice is heard, “This which takes place shortly before the events of is my beloved Son, with whom I am well Holy Week and Pascha. pleased.” The Holy Spirit is understood to be manifested in the light. In the upper center portion of the icon, Christ stands robed in bright white and surrounded Dormition of by a mandorla. Rays of light emanate from the Theotokos, Christ and the mandorla, touching Peter, August 15 James, and John and the Prophets Elijah and Moses on either side of Christ. His right hand The first great gives a blessing and His left holds a scroll, feast of the symbolic of His wisdom. liturgical year celebrates the The three mountains, Mt. Tabor for Christ at Nativity of the the center, Mt. Sinai for Moses, and Mt. Horeb Theotokos, so it for Elijah are significant because a divine is appropriate revelation took place on each one. Prophet that the last Elijah stands to the right of Christ and great feast of the represents the prophets who told of Christ’s year is also about her. On August 15 we coming. Moses stands to the left of Christ commemorate the Dormition of the Theotokos. holding the books of the Law. Elijah was Sometimes the feast is titled “The Falling taken up to heaven by a fiery chariot and Asleep of the Theotokos.” represents the living, while Moses died before reaching the Promised Land and represents “Both sadness and happiness are suggested the dead. They also represent the Truth that because the icon depicts two events, first Mary’s Christ fulfilled both the prophecies and the death and burial and second her resurrection law. and ascension.”

Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 9

The Theotokos lies on the bier with her eyes shall protect and care for her for all of closed, arms crossed, and robed in the red eternity. Their roles are reversed now. purple maphorion and blue chiton with the three eight‐pointed stars. At her head and Christ, the Theotokos, her infant soul, and the feet, are all the apostles except Thomas. They angels will have halos in this icon. The were brought by angels on clouds from the apostles may or may not have halos, but they many places they were preaching the Gospel. have been illumined, so it would be St. Peter is to the left and in front with a appropriate for them to be so adorned. censor. St. Paul is to the right and in front. In the background, there are Bishops and This feast of Mary is a second Pascha. The women disciples, bowing before the subject, her death, reminds us of our own Theotokos in sorrow and humility and mortality. It is also about her resurrection. mourning her passing. Buildings, perhaps She now “lives in the eternal and celestial chapels appear in the background without the beatitude of her son. . . Therefore, the red fabric draped from one building to Dormition is a feast of ultimate hope, for in the another to indicate an indoor scene, because midst of death, even as Christ is depicted in the “the barrier between heaven and earth has center of the icon, so our Savior awaits the been torn down by Christ.” of all the righteous, welcoming them as he did his own mother and perhaps welcoming us Behind the Theotokos, at the very center of also as newborn children to be comforted in his the icon is Christ. Encompassed in the arms and lifted into heaven.” mandorla with Christ we may see angels bowing in reverence before the Theotokos “In giving birth you preserved your virginity. In and a seraphim at the apex. The angelic host, falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O representing the heavenly realm, are moved Theotokos! You were translated to life, O by her earthly death. Christ holds the infant Mother of Life, and by your prayers you deliver Mary in swaddling clothes, who is now being our souls from death.” Festal Troparion looked after by her son. Her soul is “a newborn in the heavenly world.” Before, she held the infant Christ in her arms and now He

REFERENCES: 1. Heaven Meets Earth: Celebrating Pascha and the Twelve Feasts, by John Kosmas Skinas, Ancient Faith Publishing. 2. The Icon: Image of the Invisible, by Egon Sendler, Ωakwood Publications. 3. Articles on icons by Anthony Gehrels, from The Raven, monthly parish newsletter, St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, Austin, TX, 1994‐2005.

Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 10

Understanding the Vocabulary and Grammar of

“In former times, God, who is without form or body, could never be depicted. But now when God is seen in the flesh conversing with men, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake.” St. John of Damascus

All icons, whether of Christ, a feast day, or an individual saint, witness to and proclaim the Incarnation of Christ, His Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven and His Glory. All icons invite us to participate in our salvation through our life in Christ. They shine forth to penetrate the darkness of the world that separates us from God.

We should read icons as historical representations of events that have taken place on a timeline; as doctrinal statements of what we believe; and as salvific statements, providing guidance for our salvation. Icons invite us to participate in the event depicted in the eternal present.

In order to read an icon, we must think of the saints and other people as the nouns in a sentence; the garments they wear, items they may hold, or gestures they make as the verbs which describe the action of the icon; and the colors as the adjectives which describe in more detail and depth the story and life of the saint.

CHRIST – We can immediately identify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by His halo. His halo is the only one that has the bars of the Cross etched or painted onto it. Also, in the three bars we see the Greek letters Ο ω Ν. These letters translate to the sentence, «I AM.»

Christ’s name is always written with the Greek letters: ΙΣ ΧΣ. These are the abbreviations for Jesus Christ in Greek ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ.

The THEOTOKOS – The mother of our Lord has three identifying factors. 1) Her outer wrap (himation), will be of a deep red to red‐purple color. 2) Her wrap will have three eight‐pointed stars, one on the portion that covers the head and the other two on her shoulders. The three stars remind us of the Holy Trinity and represent her ever‐lasting virginity. 3) Her name is written with the Greek letters: ΜΡ ΘΥ, which are the abbreviations for the Greek words Mother and God. She is the Mother of God.

SAINTS – Our saints come from a variety of backgrounds. There are monks, nuns, soldiers, kings, queens, bishops, priests, angels, prophets, deacons, martyrs, and more. Their garments, the color of their garments, and items they may be holding will tell you how they lived and, sometimes, how they died.

SCENE – If the scene of an icon takes place indoors, a length of red fabric is shown draped across the top of two buildings. Because God and the Heavenly Kingdom cannot be contained, interior scenes look as though they are outdoors in the light. Buildings may be of any color, i.e. pale pinks, greens, or ochres. Windows and doorways are filled in with dark colors that look black, to indicate those places where the Light of God has not yet penetrated.

Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 11

Outdoor scenes may include mountains, caves, and trees. The mountains are often ochres, reds, and greens. Their shape is triangular, with each level slightly above the one in front of it. The mountains represent the earthly realm reaching up to meet the heavenly realm. The sky may be yellow‐gold, although there are schools of iconography that do use a darker blue for the sky. The background color may vary depending on the theme of the icon.

COLORS – Color in icons “is part of an artistic language and attempts to make the transcendent world visible.” The colors in an icon are symbolic and add meaning and depth to the Truth of the image represented.

 White – White depicts the divine world; it is light itself and represents purity and calm. White is the color of those who are penetrated by the light of God, and the color of innocence. White is usually reserved for Christ’s garments in the Resurrection and post Resurrection icons (the Ascension and Dormition of the Theotokos icons). He also wears white in the Transfiguration icon in which He radiates the pure and uncreated light of God. White is also used for Christ’s wrap in the Theophany icon; for swaddling linen in the Nativity of Christ and the Nativity of the Theotokos; and as the wrapping for Lazarus and Christ’s burial garments. Angels often wear white as well.

 Blue – Blue represents the mystery of divine life; it is the color of transcendence; dark blue is the color of Christ’s outer wrap (himation) in the Pantocrator icon and the tunic, chiton, and cap of the Theotokos.

 Red – Red is the color of blood, the clay Adam is created from, and the color of martyrdom.

 Purple – Purple symbolizes power, wealth, and the instrument of consecration. It is both priestly and royal. In icons, the color purple usually has a more reddish hue.

 Green – Green is often associated with the color of the Holy Spirit, nature and renewal or rebirth and hope.

 Brown – Brown tones are found in all things earthly. Monks and ascetics wear dark brown as a sign of their poverty and renunciation of earthly pleasures.

Great Feast Icon Descriptions | 12