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Icons of the Crucifixion |
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Question: I have a 19th century Russian icon of the Crucifixion...very elaborate and beautifully done, with an inserted brass Crucifix and the usual personages depicted (Theotokos, Sts. Mary Magdalene and John, Longinus). On opposing sides also are full-length figures of Sts. Nicolas and Gregory. I have noticed in other such icons that these figures at the sides vary according to the icon. Is there any specific reason for this? Would they represent the patron saints of a specific family who ordered the icon? |
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Answer:
Dr. Alexander Roman
alex@unicorne.org
I have seen copies of that beautiful icon
depicting the Crucifixion of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
together with the figures of Sts. Nicholas and Gregory the Theologian!
It would be entirely possible for a
specially written icon to include the patron saints of the person or
family that commissioned it and we certainly have many examples of such
icons.
In centuries past, wealthy aristocrats
would have themselves included on their icons, being shown praying
before the Lord, the Mother of God or their patron saints. This was a
popular religious art-form during the Kyivan Baroque and elsewhere in
Europe. Aristocrats had such pictures of themselves so depicted in
their private chapels - as if to want to indicate that while they were
immersed in the secular world, their "true intention" was to be praying
before the Lord etc.!
However, the depiction of Sts. Nicholas
and Gregory on the icon you mention has another meaning altogether.
Their presence in the icon represents the
Church as the Bride of Christ for which our Lord suffered and died on
the Cross.
St Gregory the Theologian represents
Orthodox faith, especially the true confession of the Most Holy Trinity
that he wrote so much, and so lucidly, about.
St Nicholas represents Orthodox praxis or
the practice of "faith that works through love" in keeping the Divine
Commandments, especially Christ's commandment to love others as
ourselves. St Nicholas symbolizes the great charity of Christ that
should imbue the lives of His followers.
Both Sts. Nicholas and Gregory also
represent the hierarchy of the Church, the successors of the Apostles,
who continue to teach the faith and praxis of Christ with His own
Authority
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Ukrainian Orthodoxy |
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