The Baptism of Christ Icon written by Fr. Jon Buffington, January 6, 2023

The Meaning of the Baptism of Christ Icon

In the Eastern church, January 6 is known as “Theophany” and is called “Epiphany” in the Western church. Theophany originates from the Greek words Theos meaning God, and Phainein meaning showing. It literally means Revelation of God. It is a day on which three important revelations of God occur. In the West, the Epiphany is the day when the Magi were led the by the star to find the Christ child and bear gifts. In the East, it is first the day of the Nativity and the theophany to the shepherds by the the angels; at Noon, it is the celebration of the coming of the Magi; in the evening, it is the commemoration of the day when the 30-year-old Christ was baptized and began His ministry. It is always the Trinitarian revelation of God.

See This Icon in Portland (Oregon)

This icon is the painted gospel of the “Baptism of Christ” written by Fr. Jon Buffington, Master Iconographer for the Classical Iconography Institute. His icon is based on several prototypes and was finished in time to be celebrated January 6 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Portland, the church which commissioned the icon. The photo shown here is the icon lying flat taken at an angle, as it has not yet been moved to its final location in the Baptismal area of the church. It measures 5 feet square and is the center panel of a Baptismal-themed triptych.

Central Figures

The central figures are Jesus, St. John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit as the dove, descending from the symbols of heaven – the dark semi-circle and hand of God at the top of the Icon. The hand and the rays visually depict the voice of God the Father who expresses pleasure in His Son: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17) From the Father comes forth the Holy Spirit who descends like a dove and alights upon Him. (Mt 3:16)

Artistic Structure

The triangular formation of God the Father, John the Baptist and Christ create the symbolism of Holy Trinity, central to the message of this icon. The triangle is replicated in the overall structure of the icon with the shape of the mountains. Iconographic mountains are indicative of a highly significant event or place of encounter (Abraham and Moses). Here we see the mountains parting to Him, opening in the center, making way for the descent of the Holy spirit, focusing our attention directly on the baptism. St. John Chrysostom emphasizes the Gospels that state the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descends upon us so that we can ascend with Christ and the Spirit to the Father in Heaven. For the first time since the fall of mankind, the Heavens were opened to us. We see this pictorially with the witness of angels and the gold background representing the divine presence of God.

Unique Halo

Notice Jesus’ halo, which is an important symbol in the icon because it clearly tells us who He is. All halos signify divinity, but the cruciform halo is reserved only for Christ and contains the Greek letters omicron, omega & nu (Ὁ ὬΝ) – which stand for the name of God as revealed to Moses by the burning bush on Mt. Sinai saying, “I am the one who is.” There is no confusion as to who He is. Unlike our baptisms in which we receive the blessing and are cleansed of sins, this divine baptism is the moment at which Christ gives the blessing and cleanses the waters and all of creation of sin, explaining the blessing gesture of His right hand.

If you’re interested in a deep dive on meaning of Ὁ ὬΝ” click here for an excellent explication in the Orthodox Arts Journal.

Divinity

Jesus is naked.  In direct contrast to Adam and Eve, who felt shame in their nakedness after the fall, Christ stands unashamed in glory representing the beauty of the undefiled human made possible through Him.

Blue is highly symbolic in iconography, as it represents the divine. In many icons, Christ is shown inside a blue, full body nimbus (aureola) with progressively deepening shades of blue closer to His body as though to take us directly to the depth of heaven. In this icon, the water washing over and around Him is stylistically reminiscent of this same full body aureola. At the bottom of the icon, we see two creatures in the water who appear to be in awe of Christ. “Water spirits” are often depicted in Theophany icons to represent the river Jordan (man pouring water from an amphora) and the sea (woman on a sea creature chariot) who depict the scripture, The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned back. Ps114:3

Old Covenant to New Covenant

The Baptism icon can be viewed as a pictorial message of movement from the Old Covenant to the New. John the prophet stands on the west side of the river (Earth) and angels wait to clothe Christ on the east (Heaven). In baptism, Christ initiates movement from the west to the east; from the Old Covenant to the New; from the old, promised land (the Earthly red mountain) to the new, promised land (the yellow Heavenly One). John the Baptist bows in obeisance to Christ, symbolic of this movement and acquiescence to the New Covenant.

St. John the Baptist

In the left lower corner, an iconographic tree with an axe reflects John’s teaching and foreshadows his own martyrdom at the hand of Herod. “Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Mt. 3:10) It is an athlete’s and warrior’s reminder not to become spiritually lazy.

Before They Became Apostles

In the left upper corner of the icon, John and Andrew experience a theophany as they emerge from the darkness of a cave which represents sin and ignorance before revelation. (Whenever we see the use of black pigment in an icon, we know this means sin, evil, or ignorance because the color black is absence of light.) They are not depicted with halos, as they have not yet joined the discipleship of Christ, but as we know, this specific revelation of God changed everything for them.

Entrust Yourself to God

This icon is rich in symbolism and meaning. Every element of the painting serves to convey the significance of the moment depicted – the revelation of Jesus’ divine identity and the beginning of His ministry to win hearts for God. It is a powerful work of instructional liturgical art that invites contemplation and reflection on the mysteries of faith, the true meaning of baptism and entrusting one’s life to God.