Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost The Meaning of the Pentecost Icon and Signs & Symbols of the Holy Spirit Tongues of Fire - Flames or Rays In some icons, "tongues of fire" descend upon the Apostles signifying the [Read More]
A Different Good Friday Image The Lamentation Over the Dead Christ The image in this Good Friday message is a detail of a twelfth century fresco in the Church of St. Panteleimon, in Nerezi Skopje (Kosovo) photographed during our Sacred [Read More]
"Shine, Shine Jerusalem, your light will come, and the day and night (they) are not closed." Isaiah, Chapter 60, verses I, II Download the annotation of the scenes here. Click here to download a larger image of the icon. This [Read More]
14th Century Fresco of the Baptism of Christ, Visoko Dečani Monastery, Serbia Understanding Theophany Symbolism January 6 is known in the Eastern church as Theophany and in the Western church it is called Epiphany. Theophany originates from the Greek words Theos [Read More]
The Nativity, Andrei Rublev, 1410, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow Understanding the Meaning Through Symbolism in the Nativity Icon This icon not only tells the story of Christ’s birth, it also reveals the theological meaning of the feast. Since icons [Read More]
Kirillo Belozersky Iconostasis, 15th Century Russian This is most definitely an icon of Thanksgiving. The Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos* to the Temple, recalls the events written in the Protoevangelium of James concerning the life of the Blessed Virgin [Read More]
Nativity of the Mother of God, 1314, Studenica, Serbia. Icons do not depict events in chronological or in accurate historic sequence. In this icon we see the various states/events surrounding the birth of the Theotokos all at the same time, rather [Read More]
And He was transfigured before them; His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light. Mt 17:1-9 Transfiguration, by Theophanes the Greek, 1408 Theophanes the Greek was the teacher of Andrei Rublev, the great Russian icon [Read More]
Why Do You Look to the Heavens? As they were watching, He was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, behold, two men in white [Read More]
Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem Understanding the Palm Sunday Icon Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9) The icon for Palm Sunday [Read More]
