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Rus: Orthodox Ikonography - Part 3 - Ikon Specifics

© Dr. Donald R. Houston

Rus: Orthodox Ikonography - Part 3 - Ikon Specifics

The Nativity of Christ
Ikons of the feast are the visual description of the Kontakion of the Feast. This is a visible testimony of the fundamental dogma of the Christian faith; God has become part of the creation to recreate and renew the creation. The creation acquires at this point a new meaning as well as a new purpose. It is penultimate Transfiguration. Therefore all of creation is here represented before the Throne of God become man. The earth offers a cave. The light of the newborn child shines forth from this cave just as the light of the Resurrection will shine forth from the cave which was His tomb. The child is wrapped in swaddling clothes which foreshadow the grave clothes in which He will be wrapped after His crucifixion. The baby lies in a manger which is the offering of the wilderness. Thus the manna which was received in the wilderness by the wandering Israelites, is seen to have foreshadowed the bread of life given by Christ in the bread of the eucharist. The cave, the manger, and the swaddling clothes are indications of the kenosis of the Godhead.

The presence of the animals in the very center of the icon, next to the manger, recalls the prophecy of Isaiah "The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel does not know Me, and the people has not regarded Me." The Mother of God is depicted as the new Eve. As the first Eve became the mother of all living people, so the new Eve became the Mother of all renewed humanity. She is lying just outside the cave on a portable bed such as Jews of the period would have carried in their travels. She is clothed in purple signifying her royalty.

The angels glorify the new-born child and bring good tidings to the shepherds. In the top center of the icon is a star, guiding the magi, with one of its rays shining down directly into mouth of the cave. This ray connects the star with a part of the sphere which goes beyond the limits of the icon, thus becoming a symbolic representation of the Heaven.

In the bottom part of the figure we see Joseph, separated from the main group because he is not the father. Joseph is contemplating the mystery set before him. We also see 2 women bathing and caring for the child. Thus we are instructed that this child was a child like all other children, with the needs and wants typical of all human children.

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