Iconography of angels

[The_Prodigal]

I mean those gray things sticking out on either side of Gabriel’s head. If they are ribbons, that makes sense, though they don’t look like anything I’ve ever seen. Perhaps in medieval Byzantium that’s what they looked like.

http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/images/angel_byz.gabriel.lg.jpeg

 

[lizaanne]

In the Latin Rite the priest has his hands covered when elevating the monstrance for veneration.

This is our priest during the Easter season:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4065/benedictionzd0.jpg

Photo credit: te-deum.blogspot.com/search/label/Benediction

This thread is fascinating to me, because I never looked at the covering of his hands this way before. It adds a new level of understanding to what I am seeing/experiencing. Thank you!!

~Liza

 

[bpbasilphx]

**I mean those gray things sticking out on either side of Gabriel’s head. If they are ribbons, that makes sense, though they don’t look like anything I’ve ever seen. Perhaps in medieval Byzantium that’s what they looked like.
**

Those are the ends of the mitra or headband.

 

[Pani_Rose]

There are a few icons in which Christ is seen with the wings of angels as in this one. It is a copy of one from the Hagi Spohia. The iconographer says it appears femine to him, I don’t think so. It is “Hagia Hesychia” (Holy Silence)
puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/silence.html

http://www.users.csbsju.edu/~eknuth/images/mhesychi.jpg

users.csbsju.edu/%7Eeknuth/images/mhesychi.jpg

 

[Pani_Rose]

I’m not sure if it is related, but for us, deacons never hold the chalices or platter {holding the consecrated host} with our bare hands… always with cloth.

There hands are always covered because they are ‘servants of the Lord’, but also they represent the angles serving the Altar - which is Christ - during the Divine Liturgy.

When they cross the Orions for serving Communion - their Orions become the wings of angels.

Here you can see the Rebeluv’s Trinity Icon - angels representing - but who are the Trinity.
puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/silence.html

 

[bpbasilphx]

Holy Silence is a very popular icon among Old Believers/Old Ritualists.

 

[patrick457]

I suspect you’re referring to the wings, which may not always be obviously so.

Also, note that sometimes, St. John the Forerunner is portrayed with wings.

Yes, because of Mark 1:2-3:

“Behold, I am sending my messenger (angelon mou, also “my angel”) ahead of you, who will prepare your way. The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’”

Here’s an icon of St. John from the 6th century. You can notice the (now-faded) wings:

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3302/bapsinls2.jpg