Saturday 26 May 2012

Pentecost depicted by icon



Stations of the Resurrection
  
PENTECOST 
Meditations by Terry Tastatd
Original Icons by Carolne Lees


John 16:13-14
[Jesus said:} "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

This icon depicts Pentecost, but not as a onetime-only event in the past. Rather, it helps us to understand Pentecost as a process continuing through all ages and countries, as the Spirit of God moves over the world.

The Spirit is depicted as an orb, like the sun, its rays reaching down toward Mary and the apostles. As the Spirit flickers toward them, we notice that its symbolic rays are coloured green, a reminder that fruitfulness is one of the gifts of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit also who drives the Church outward, making us evangelists. If we believe in God, we cannot stand still. .We must give an account of the hope that is in us. The fruits of this are seen in the figure of the king emerging out of darkness. We know that in history missionaries often converted kings first, because this would encourage their followers to come after them. So the king represents the achievement of the Church in bringing the gospel to the pagan world.

The king has heard the good news of Christ risen from the dead; hence he carries in his hand white garments. These garments remind us of Christ, set free from the tomb, just like the king who emerges out of darkness. But the white garments are also a symbol of baptismal robes, baptism setting the seal on our Christian com­mitment and joining us to the mystical body of Christ, the Church.

Around the tomb the apostles and Mary give their affirmation. The hands of the apostles are lifted in blessing, while the arms of Mary rise in praise and intercession. She pleads for many, constantly, for of all the saints in eternity she has been uniquely privileged. Looking at the icon we see that around her head are Greek words that tell us that she is "Mother of God." Through her, the Christ, the Messiah, has come into the world, human and divine.

There is a unity here among the apostles and Mary. Each figure is distinct, yet each sits comfortably with the others, for the unity of the Church does not mean uniformity, but rather harmony. Some of the disciples are robed in red, because in the history of the Church in virtually every age, there have been men and women who have paid for their faith with their lives.

We adore you and praise you, O Risen Lord
Because by your death and resurrection you give life to the world.
We are one people,
drawn from many nations. Holy Spirit,
go-between God,
weave your people ever more closely together so that our faith in action
and the joy of our worship
may draw others to know you.

Pentecost
10th. of twelve Orthodox Feasts
One of the 12 Icons on the wall of abbey offices cloister.
12 Otherwise called, "Festival Row" of an iconostasis screen.
Interest for further discovery.