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Orthodox icon of the Council of Archangels, 14 cent. Bachkovo Monastery in Bulgaria .
Commemorated November 8.
The Archangels Michael and Gabriel, dressed in Byzantine imperial garb and holding a medallion showing the Holy Virgin with the Christ Child, emanate serenity and pensiveness. Although the full-length frontal figures are flatly treated, the faces display a precise and delicate representation of forms and exquisitely drawn details.
The two images show certain difference in the use of color, which could be considered evidence that the icon was created by to painters. When it was found, the icon had been serving as the patron icon of the church of the Holy Archangels at Backovo Monastery in Bulgaria. While the date of the church is disputed, its construction is generally attributed to the thirteenth to fourteenth century.
The composition of this icon, an iconographic type known as the Council of Archangels, usually represents Christ Emmanuel alone in the medallion.In the Backovo icon, however, He appears together with the Virgin Mary, an addition made because She is the patron Saint of Backovo Monastery.
"Ancient of Days" icon
Othodox icon of the "Ancient of Days", icon of 12 cent.
The name of the store in the icon is a watermark, Your icon will NOT have it.
"Ancient of Days" is the name of God as we found it in the Old testament, according of the translation of the O’. Symbolizes the perfection and the eternity of God.
We find this name of our God in two Biblical Books. The first is in the Book of Daniel and it was a vision that Daniel's had: "I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire."A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened”.
The second is in the book of Revelation 1/A 12-18: "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lamp stands and among the lamp stands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
In the art of the orthodox iconography, sometimes Christ portrayed as an Elderly, as the “Ancient of the Days”, to symbolically show His existence in eternity and some times like a young “person” to demonstrate His incarnation. This tendency of hagiography appeared in the 6th century AD, especially in the Eastern Byzantine Empire.
"Go and Make Disciples" icon
Orthodox icon of "Go and Make Disciples". Copy of an icon of 14 cent. Benaki Museum, Athens
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19.
Please NOTE that, the sizes of the icon are NOT exact.
"Odegetria" icon (1)
Orthodox icon of The Most Holy Theotokos "Odegetria" icon (1). Contemporary icon.
NOTE: the name of the store in the icon is just a watermark. Your icon will NOT have it.
Pair with Pantoctaror (7) icon
"Odegetria" icon (2)
