{"id":10597,"date":"2016-12-25T22:11:55","date_gmt":"2016-12-26T03:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/?p=10597"},"modified":"2017-01-03T16:31:21","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T21:31:21","slug":"icoana-nasterii-domnului-talcuire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/2016\/12\/25\/icoana-nasterii-domnului-talcuire\/","title":{"rendered":"Nativity Icon interpretation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>About the Orthodox icon is said to be a “Bible in Pictures”, “Window to Heaven”, “bearing grace” because through her church confesses the truth of faith revealed visually.
\n<\/span>With the Incarnation and Birth of His Word was God made man, at which his face becomes possible representation. <\/span>Saviour Himself gave us His face printed on Holy veil.
\n<\/span>Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ is described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (Matthew 1: 18-25; 2: 1-12; Luke 2, 1-20), but also in some apocryphal texts.
\n<\/span>Icon of the Nativity is one of the richest elements icons of the Church in the dogmatic, biblical or apocryphal history. <\/span>In this image combines elements of Luke (which speaks about the manger, the presence of the angels, the shepherds) and Matthew (presence of the Magi, the star), but also elements of the texts apocryphal, especially Protoevangelion James ( <\/span>when washing the Infant Christ).
\n<\/span>The current shape of the icon of the Nativity (with few variations), dating from the fifteenth century, although based on much older sources, the prophecies of the Old Testament, the New Testament account of Jacob and Protoevangelion.
\n<\/span>To understand the symbolism of the Nativity icon of the Savior, we have to analyze in stages because the icon is divided into three registers, which in turn are divided into three parts as follows:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1.<\/span> The upper register<\/span> symbolizes heavenly world:<\/span><\/p>\n

     Left – angels who glorify God<\/span>;<\/span>
\n     Center – Star with guiding beam<\/span> and<\/span> the mountain<\/span>‘s rough rocks;
\n     Right – Nativity angel proclaiming pastors.<\/p>\n

  2. The repository symbolizes the union of the divine and<\/span> human:<\/p>\n

     Left – Magi brought gifts to the Babe that<\/span>;<\/span>
\n     Central – the Christ Child, the Virgin cave<\/span>, manger, ox and donkey;
\n     Right – shepherds.<\/p>\n

  3. The lower register symbolizes humanity<\/span>:<\/p>\n

     Left – Right Joseph sitting thoughtfully<\/span>;
\n     Center – the devil disguised as<\/span> a shepherd;
\n     Right – Midwives Salome <\/span>and<\/span> <\/span>Zelemi <\/span><\/span>washing the <\/span><\/span>child<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Icon of the Nativity shows us that all creation took part in the birth of Christ through the sky with the star that guided the Magi, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; <\/span>poor and lowly shepherds and angels that bring glory to God; <\/span>land that offers cave where the Messiah was to be born.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the first register (upper register) is painted sky rising from one ray, revealing that he is One God. <\/span>Looking below, we see that the beam splits into three, symbol of the participation of the entire Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to man’s salvation. <\/span>Steaua is sent by God to proclaim the Heavenly King Magi Nativity and guide them towards humble “palace”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Angels left are represented in their work doxology being directed towards the beam and praising God, saying, “Glory to up to God and on earth peace among men of good will” (Luke 2, 14 <\/span>). <\/span>We can say, without making a mistake, that this song together with the pastors (in the second register of the icon) make up the first carol history.<\/span><\/p>\n

The angel on the right is represented in the second paper, by proclamation being bent toward pastors and proclaiming them the Birth of the King of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mountain cliffs symbolizes his harsh world after the fall of the forefathers and all their descendants. <\/span>The mountain is composed of sharp rocks, which are depicted in the form of steps that seem to merge with the sky, indicating both movement revelation of God to man and man’s ascent to God, both possible with the incarnation of the Son of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the second register (heart icon), it is depicted Virgin Mary, lying on a purple mantle – the Byzantine imperial color – symbolizing that is queen of heaven. <\/span>St. Andrew of Crete in the Great Canon says: “As of purple tissue was Emanuel’s body inwardly in thy womb, Pure, which are purple understanding”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mother of God is represented larger than others (oversized), half high, taking his right hand around his neck, as if trying to stifle a sob. <\/span>The expression on her face shows that will anticipate the sufferings we endure as Mother of Him who was to suffer death on the cross for the salvation of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theotokos robe is red on the outside and inside coat is painted blue. <\/span>The red color symbolizes the glory and dominion, and the blue heavens, which means that she is clothed with immortal glory in Heaven, and wheelbarrow Virgin p\u0103timitoare art converted to the Lord on earth. <\/span>Outer garment over Theotokos has represented three stars, rested on the shoulders and head, which symbolizes the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God (before, during and after the birth of Christ). <\/span>Mother does not the child, but rather looked at Joseph, seeing his amazement for this wonderful birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christ child is placed in the manger, which looks like a tomb. <\/span>It is changing diapers (with folded arms in the face of the Cross) have the form of narrow white stripes, like funeral shrouds. <\/span>White symbolizes that Child, God being is without sin.
\n<\/span>Crib is dark cave, which prefigures the Lord’s tomb, and death of Christ \u015fipogor\u00e2rea hell. <\/span>The cave and the manger are evidence of the profound humility of Christ the Savior.
\n<\/span>Also in the cave near the manger is an ox and an ass, details not mentioned in the Gospel, but appear every icon of the Nativity; <\/span>scene is included to show the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his Lord’s manger, but Israel does not know; <\/span>I do not understand my people “(Isaiah 1: 3). <\/span>In some Russian icons appears instead of the usual donkey a horse, unknown in Russia.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In some pictures, the Magi are represented on horses, watching the star and bringing in others Baby gifts: gold – as for a king (whose kingdom shall have no end), myrrh – as the One Who brings through death and resurrection; <\/span>incense – as the High Priest. <\/span>Myrrh and incense along with other spices were used in burial rituals. <\/span>Christ, the Eternal High Priest, Bring the Sacrifice Himself, overcoming sin and with sin and death – which is the consequence of sin. <\/span>St. Matthew the Evangelist is the only mentioning the presence of magicians, but we do not record their name or number. <\/span>Number traditional three (3) is linked with the three gifts that are offered. <\/span>In the icon, they are represented as men of different ages: one couple, another couple and one old. <\/span>This means that revelation is given to all people, regardless of their physical age, but matches the level of spiritual power and understanding of the divine mysteries. <\/span>They have come a long way towards the knowledge of the true God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shepherds are painted listening to the angel’s message, and one of them piped to bucurie.P\u0103storii are the first to receive news of the Incarnation of God, being the first to worship Him and believe in Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the lower register we are painted two scenes: the scene Infant money spent by midwives and the scene between Joseph and the tempter devil.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Old Joseph is represented in the lower left corner, sat down and very thoughtfully. <\/span>This disorder caused by the birth of Jesus is portrayed in our Hymn IV of Acatistul Annunciation “Vifor of having improper thoughts within himself, the wise Joseph was troubled […] but knowing that your conception is of the Holy Spirit <\/span>he said: Alleluia. “<\/span><\/p>\n

Devil (in the guise of a shepherd), seeing his faith doubtful comes and it tempts him up, saying that a virgin can not be born, he was so contrary to the laws of nature: “As this rod (represented bent or broken, symbol <\/span>crushed his former scepter of power) will not be able to give offspring, so an old man like you can not conceive a child and can not virgin birth “(and suddenly blossomed staff). <\/span>This scene is presented to us in the Gospel apocryphal Jacob. <\/span>Joseph is depicted with a halo, as it is considered in line with the righteous God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christ washes Jesus, shown in the upper right corner of the icon, we are told in the apocryphal gospels of James and Matthew, which refers to two women – Salome and Zelem – called St. Joseph to a witness the birth of the Virgin Mary. <\/span>Midwives were not mentioned in the canonical Gospels because their presence is superfluous: Our Lady of the supernatural birth without pain, and the child was very clean and did not need washing. <\/span>Jesus Christ was subject to human habits and skills, was subjected to circumcision and baptism, although he did not need all this.<\/span><\/p>\n

The oldest representations of the Nativity of Christ dates from centuries IV and VI (the Catacombs of St. Sebastian in Rome – IV century; a sarcophagus from the Museum Lateran gospel clothing in Milan – VI century). <\/span>The iconography of the Nativity was developed in the late seventh century.<\/span><\/p>\n

source: doxologia.ro<\/p>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About the Orthodox icon is said to be a “Bible in Pictures”, “Window to Heaven”, “bearing grace” because through her church confesses the truth of faith revealed visually. With the Incarnation and Birth of His Word was God made man, at which his face becomes possible representation. Saviour Himself gave us His face printed on … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-antonel","4":"post-10597","6":"format-image","7":"category-biblioteca","8":"post_format-post-format-image","9":"has-format"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10597"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10807,"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10597\/revisions\/10807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sfioanevanghelistul.ca\/wordpress\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}