What is an icon of Mary?
The KOIMESIS (or Kemesis) is the icon of the Dormition or falling asleep of Mary. It shows her lying on a couch which is covered with the same red material as at the nativity, surrounded by the apostles. Standing just behind her is Christ holding a small child clothed in white, symbolizing Mary’s soul.
What does the crown of Mary symbolize?
Crown of Mary The ancient laurel crown in the Olympic Games signified victory, and a crown in gold and precious stones indicate power and wealth. In Christian iconography, the crown develops religious meanings. In an early mosaic in Ravenna, Italy, virgins present a crown to the child and Mary as a gesture of humility.
What is the icon of the Theotokos?
The Panagia Portaitissa (Greek: Παναγία Πορταΐτισσα; Georgian: ივერიის ღვთისმშობლის ხატი) also known as the Iviron Theotokos or Iverskaya in Russian, is an Eastern Orthodox icon of the Virgin Mary in the Georgian Iviron monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, where it is believed to have been since the year 999.
What is the important ideas behind praying with an icon?
The Spiritual Practice Gaze into the soul through the eyes of your icon, knowing that the figure represented is alive in heaven, joined in the prayer and worship of God throughout all eternity. Allow your sense of sight to interact with whatever the icon is presenting to you in the present moment.
Why is the Virgin Mary’s head tilted?
Their heads are tilted toward each other with tender, loving expressions. These elements both physically connect the Virgin and Jesus and imply the deep-rooted bond of mother and child. Pontormo’s use of this pose, with Mary’s hand supporting her son’s back, affirms her supportive and nurturing nature as a new mother.
Why is Mary crowned with flowers?
To symbolize her significance in the Church and in our lives, the “May Crowning.” A statue of the Blessed Virgin is crowned with a garland or crown of flowers honoring Mary as “the Queen of May.”
Why is Mary called the Theotokos?
Mary is the Theotokos, the one who gave birth to God. This single word sums up the meaning of Luke’s phrase: ‘Mother of the Lord’ (Lk 1:43) and represents a counterpoint to John’s teaching that the ‘Word was made flesh’ (Jn 1:14). Usually the term is translated into English as ‘Mother of God’.
Do we pray to icons?
So icons invite us to meet their subjects in the present presence of the living God. Of course, we do not pray to icons, but we may pray through them, as it were. The icon functions as a tool for recollecting the mind and heart and settling in to the nearness of God (whether felt or unfelt).
What does a circle of stars represent?
A circle of stars often represents unity, solidarity and harmony in flags, seals and signs, and is also seen in iconographic motifs related to the Woman of the Apocalypse as well as in Baroque allegoric art that sometimes depicts the Crown of Immortality.
Why May is dedicated to Mary?
The tradition of dedicating the month of May to Mary, came about in the 13th century. Some say because it was created to replace various pagan cults. The actual reason is the fact that this month is the time when spring is at the height of its beauty. Spring is also connected with nature renewing itself.
What is the real name of Virgin Mary?
Mary’s name in the original manuscripts of the New Testament was based on her original Aramaic name מרים, transliterated as Maryam or Mariam. The English name Mary comes from the Greek Μαρία, a shortened form of the name Μαριάμ.
What is a holy icon?
An icon (from Ancient Greek εἰκών (eikṓn) ‘image, resemblance’) is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, and certain Eastern Catholic churches.
What is an icon in prayer?
The word icon simply means image. A religious icons is considered to be a soul window, an entrance into the presence of the Holy. Icons serve as invitations to keep eyes open while one prays. It is prayer to just look attentively at an icon and let God speak.
What does the Catholic church say about icons?
Veneration of Icons and Religious Images A: It is the first commandment that makes reference to graven images and idols (Deut. 4,15-16). This aspect of the first commandment means not to replace God the ineffable and omnipotent with a graven image.