The Myrrh Bearing Women

– Fr. Jon Buffington, Ania Kocurek-Williams & Christine Thum Schlesser

Based on a prototype by Leonid Ouspensky

Medium: Egg tempera, natural earth ochres/minerals and 23.75 karat gold leaf on European linden wood gessoed board

Size: 48” H x 40” W

Location: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon

Theme Depicted:
In the gospel of Mark, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought anointing spices to the tomb very early in the morning just after the sun had risen. As they were discussing who would roll back the large rock from the entrance to the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. Go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.”

While there are other expressions of Christ’s resurrection in Iconography, this theme reveals that the resurrection was announced first to women, who have historically been underrepresented. This icon follows the tradition of depicting these women as they would have been historically: women of color in the Middle East. This icon, written during the Pandemic in 2020-2021 shares this important message of Christianity in a way that speaks to modern times.

Several students of the iconography institute participated under the direction of the artists.