Explanations of Icons

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wynd said:
That is the icon of the Resurrection. The keys, nails, etc. are the remains of the gates of Hades, which have been broken into pieces by Christ’s death and resurrection. You can also see Adam and Eve (who represent the human race) being pulled from their graves.

More info: orthodoxinfo.com/death/resurrection_icon.aspx
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This ikon is actually referred to as THE DESCENT INTO THE ABYSS.

It depicts Jesus smashing the gates of Hades and binding the Devil with chains. It shows Adam and Eve being “freed from the Abyss” as well as all the holy ones of the Old Testament.

The ikon of the Resurrection usually shows Jesus in white vestments standing on the empty grave in a mandola with sangels on either side of Him kneeling in adoration. Often times the Roman soldiers are shown laying on the ground as well.

Hope this helps…
 
holdencaulfield said:
Could you please cite that? I’m not disagreeing, just wanting to know where it comes from. However how could the Blessed Theotokos go behind the Holy of Holies because first of all she was a woman and she was not the high priest. Why did they allow her to?
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Leonid Ouspensky’s THE MEANING OF ICONS and THE INCARNATE GOD, VOL. 1, THE FEASTS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE VIRGIN MARY, by Catherine Aslanoff (French edition), printed by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, pages 39-51.

Any more questions??
 
holdencaulfield said:
However how could the Blessed Theotokos go behind the Holy of Holies because first of all she was a woman and she was not the high priest. Why did they allow her to?
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"No one can enter the Holy of Holies. Mary enters the porch, passes into the “holy” and climbs the 15 steps of the staircase and penetrates into the “Holy of Holies.”

“Her daring provoked everyone’s amazement, but no one dared to stop the holy child. Not only men, but even angels were amazed, for this unprecedented entrance revealed to them that the future deliverance of humanity by the coming of the Savior was imminent.”

"At the entrance of the Most Pure, the angels were amazed: “How can the Virgin enter the Holy of Holies?” (Hirmos of the Cannon, Ode 9)

from THE INCARNATE GOD, VOL 1, THE FEASTS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE VIRGIN MARY, by Catherine Aslanoff, page 39.
 
Patchunky said:
"No one can enter the Holy of Holies. Mary enters the porch, passes into the “holy” and climbs the 15 steps of the staircase and penetrates into the “Holy of Holies.”

“Her daring provoked everyone’s amazement, but no one dared to stop the holy child. Not only men, but even angels were amazed, for this unprecedented entrance revealed to them that the future deliverance of humanity by the coming of the Savior was imminent.”

"At the entrance of the Most Pure, the angels were amazed: “How can the Virgin enter the Holy of Holies?” (Hirmos of the Cannon, Ode 9)

from THE INCARNATE GOD, VOL 1, THE FEASTS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE VIRGIN MARY, by Catherine Aslanoff, page 39.
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Yes, thank you I also read about it on the OCA website.
 
Patchunky said:
The Abyss is another name for Hell or Hades.
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Oh, so those are the people who are in Hades, makes sense. Who are the saints who are in Hades? That makes perfect sense. Why are Icons of the Descent into Hades allowed, yet ones for the Resurrection are not? Unless you count the souls of the dead in Hades, no one witnessed the Descent into Hades either. Thanks for answering my questions by the way.
 
holdencaulfield said:
Oh, so those are the people who are in Hades, makes sense. Who are the saints who are in Hades? That makes perfect sense. Why are Icons of the Descent into Hades allowed, yet ones for the Resurrection are not? Unless you count the souls of the dead in Hades, no one witnessed the Descent into Hades either. Thanks for answering my questions by the way.
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The ikon you have chosen depicts Adam & Eve. Behind Adam are St. John the Baptist with the halo and King David, the young with the crown and King Solomon, the older man with the crown. The other figure is one of the prophets from the Old Testament, but I’m not sure which one, I don’t recognize the colors of his robes.

The figure behind Eve is her son Able, who was killed by his brother Cain. The other figures are also prophets from the Old Testament.

The figures usually depicted are Jacob, Issac, Rebecca, Abraham, Moses, and Noah.
 
Milliardo said:
I am not sure if this is the right thread, but I have this icon given to us by our priest, and I am not sure who the saints are here…
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They are Saints Nicholas, Raphael and Irene of Lesvos. If you Google this you should find info about them.

:harp:
 
Are you sure it’s not an Icon of St. Joachim, St. Elizabeth and the Most Holy and Blessed Theotokos.
 
holdencaulfield said:
Why do these Icons always portray him with brown angels wings? Did he really have wings? :confused:
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Are icons not the imagination of humans created out of our own minds because there is so many different ones representing the same Holy Soul?
 
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