Icons written by Theophanes the Greek are easy to gaze at, pray with and exude a feeling of balance and calm.  Why? Because he was was the master of painting within the harmony of underlying geometry.  Take a look at a very basic example of the underlying geometric structure of this icon depicted below in black and white.  The red lines represent the geometry possibly used to create the structure and balance of this composition.  (“Possibly” because he didn’t leave us any notes, but it is the type of geometry used throughout the ages.)

Notice that Christ is at the Apex of the Triangle with the disciples forming the foundation on Earth.

Message of the Icon

This icon shows us another theophany in which Christ is revealed as the Son of God.  (The first time occurs in the Baptism of Christ icon, which has a similar structure.  In both revelations, God identifies Christ as the Son of God.)  It tells the story in structural detail with the use of color.  

There is far more that can be said about this deeply symbolic icon, but this brief article focuses on the highpoints: 

Apostles.  Peter is shown at our left, raising his hand to offer to build the three tents, suggesting that he is still not fully aware who Christ really is.  The other two apostles, John and James, are blinded and perhaps terrified by experiencing Christ’s indescribable radiance and shield their eyes.  John is symbolically placed directly below Christ, as he will be at the crucifixion.  Their stumbling and tumbling presents confusion in contrast to Christ’s serenity and peacefulness at the top of the icon.

Mandorla.  Here a tricolor blue nimbus surrounds Christ as a full body halo called a “Mandorla.”  In iconography, a mandorla is reserved only for Jesus and Mary and is often painted in progressive gradients of blue, the color of divinity, with the deepest blue intended to represent the uncreated, divine light of God’s mystery which is positioned closest to the core of Christ’s body.

If there were no underlying geometry to create balance in this icon, your eye might have been distracted by the concentric circles behind Christ that do not align, and yet, they feel totally balanced.  (Balanced asymetry) 

The other two circles of the mandorla behind Christ represent the other two members of the Holy Trinity.

Notice that the geometric star behind Christ seems to emanate from and within Him and the gold rays originate within the deepest blue to emphasize and transmit Christ’s radiance.  We have numerous versions of this Transfiguration icon at the Institute and by zooming in we can see that there are gold stars all around the outer circle of the mandorla that have dulled over the centuries.

Mountains & Trees.  The Transfiguration occurred on Mount Tabor, which technically has only one peak; however, the iconographer depicts Elijah and Moses each on their own mountain peak to distinguish each individual revelation with God that occurred on other mountains – Mount Horeb for Elijah and Mount Sinai for Moses.  Another distinction occurs with this separation – Elijah represents the Prophets and the prophesies and Moses holding the tablet represents the law.  In Iconography, if you see mountains, get ready to learn about a very important event and message.  Here, Christ discusses his fulfillment of the prophesies with Elijah and Moses.

The trees are meant to foreshadow the wood of the cross.Insets.  In both the insets inside the mountain, the Apostles are shown somewhat reluctant to follow Christ.  Their cave-like surroundings represent ignorance. First (left) Christ leading them from the valley which is intended to mean leading them out of confusion, blindness, hypocrisy and resistance.  In the next inset (right) after the Transfiguration occurs, they are still somewhat reluctant to follow Christ, because now they understand that His suffering and death is imminent.  Notice that in these insets Christ’s garments are dark, to foreshadow suffering and death.

Colors:

• White – is the dominant central color of the icon in Christ’s garments, a color generally reserved for Christ’s purity and incorruptibility.  All three gospels mention the luminous white of His garments but the gospel of Mark specifically mentions “cleanness” as no one on earth could bleach.

• Blue – a divine color of heaven is in the upper portion of the icon, representing Heaven.  The blue lines emanating from Christ to the Apostles indicates that the Apostles have seen God.

• Earth Tones – the earth tones of the Apostles’ garments denote their place on Earth.  Despite this supernatural event, it takes place on Earth and the Apostles are humans, who experience confusion and fear, like every fallen man, hence the jumble of the their postures in sharp contrast to the serenity of Christ.