Interpreting this Icon

[ThatOneGuy92]

This is a lovely Icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos. However, I’m not sure what is going on at the bottom. The angel has a flaming sword and is cutting of someone’s hands? What is up with that?

If anyone could help me understand this detail it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[rowlands]

Along with several other impious Jewish citizens of Jerusalem, a man called Jechonias attempted to overturn the bier on which the body of the Mother of God lay.

The archangel Michael appeared and severed Jechonias’ hands with a sword and they remained attached to the bier.

Realising the import of what he had done, Jechonias repented and believed in the divinity of Christ and his hands were restored.

 

[ThatOneGuy92]

Along with several other impious Jewish citizens of Jerusalem, a man called Jechonias attempted to overturn the bier on which the body of the Mother of God lay.

The archangel Michael appeared and severed Jechonias’ hands with a sword and they remained attached to the bier.

Realising the import of what he had done, Jechonias repented and believed in the divinity of Christ and his hands were restored.

Thank you for explaining that to me. Having never seen that particular scene depicted in Icons of the Dormition, I was all like, “What is going here?!”

 

[TimothyH]

The firey sword is interesting and brought Genesis to my mind.

The LORD God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. He expelled the man, stationing the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword east of the garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:23:24)

Is the tree of life in this passage generally interpreted to mean Mary in the east?

-Tim-

 

[Vico]

The firey sword is interesting and brought Genesis to my mind.
The LORD God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. He expelled the man, stationing the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword east of the garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:23:24)
Is the tree of life in this passage generally interpreted to mean Mary in the east?

-Tim-

It is the Tree of the Cross: from which we receive the Holy Eucharist.

Rev 2:7

He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

[Dan_Daly]

Along with several other impious Jewish citizens of Jerusalem, a man called Jechonias attempted to overturn the bier on which the body of the Mother of God lay.

I had always heard that Our Blessed Mother lived in what is modern day Turkey at the end of her life on earth. I’m curious about a tradition that she was in Jerusalem? Is this the norm in the Eastern rites?

Pax and God Bless.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Yes, she lived in Ephesus which is modern-day Turkey with St John the Theologian (who was a relative of hers) and that is where the “Holy House of Loreto” was located.

St John’s empty tomb is at Ephesus - he was placed in it by his disciples at his directives while he was still ALIVE. They put the stone over it and when they came back the next day, he was not there. The East believes he was taken body and soul, while yet alive, to heaven. The East has a very high devotion to St John the Theologian (the Evangelist), just as it does to St John the Baptist. In the Syriac tradition, St John the Theologian is referred to as the “Son of Mary.”

Toward the end of her life, she returned to Jerusalem and visited the places associated with her Son. She would tell her friends, “This is where my Son Jesus fell carrying His Cross etc.”

She was very popular in Jerusalem and many people, Christians and Jews, would visit her for her counsel and prayers (and her miracle-working powers).

Her Son appeared to her to let her know that the time of their reunion in heaven was approaching.

According to tradition and a deuterocanonical book, she took that opportunity to ask her Son for a singular privilege. That privilege was that if anyone asked her for her assistance, she would be able to ask Him and He would grant it. Her Son agreed and granted her this privilege.

The Apostles were then in various places preaching the Gospel. They were born supernaturally back to Jerusalem for the funeral of the Most Holy Mother of God, except for Thomas.

The Apostles prayed and sang psalms during their sorrowful mourning of the Most Holy Virgin Mary before closing the tomb which is in the Garden of Gethsemane (a must see for any pilgrim to Jerusalem and I found it a most holy place!).

Thomas came afterwards but asked to see and reverence the body of the Most Holy Mother of God so the other Apostles went with him and opened her tomb.

But only flowers and the scent of holy flowers could be had in the tomb. Thomas, who doubted the Resurrection of Christ, then cried out how fitting it was for the Mother of the Saviour to be taken body and soul into heaven!

Alex

 

[TimothyH]

Yes, she lived in Ephesus which is modern-day Turkey with St John the Theologian (who was a relative of hers) and that is where the “Holy House of Loreto” was located.

St John’s empty tomb is at Ephesus - he was placed in it by his disciples at his directives while he was still ALIVE. They put the stone over it and when they came back the next day, he was not there. The East believes he was taken body and soul, while yet alive, to heaven. The East has a very high devotion to St John the Theologian (the Evangelist), just as it does to St John the Baptist. In the Syriac tradition, St John the Theologian is referred to as the “Son of Mary.”

Toward the end of her life, she returned to Jerusalem and visited the places associated with her Son. She would tell her friends, “This is where my Son Jesus fell carrying His Cross etc.”

She was very popular in Jerusalem and many people, Christians and Jews, would visit her for her counsel and prayers (and her miracle-working powers).

Her Son appeared to her to let her know that the time of their reunion in heaven was approaching.

According to tradition and a deuterocanonical book, she took that opportunity to ask her Son for a singular privilege. That privilege was that if anyone asked her for her assistance, she would be able to ask Him and He would grant it. Her Son agreed and granted her this privilege.

The Apostles were then in various places preaching the Gospel. They were born supernaturally back to Jerusalem for the funeral of the Most Holy Mother of God, except for Thomas.

The Apostles prayed and sang psalms during their sorrowful mourning of the Most Holy Virgin Mary before closing the tomb which is in the Garden of Gethsemane (a must see for any pilgrim to Jerusalem and I found it a most holy place!).

Thomas came afterwards but asked to see and reverence the body of the Most Holy Mother of God so the other Apostles went with him and opened her tomb.

But only flowers and the scent of holy flowers could be had in the tomb. Thomas, who doubted the Resurrection of Christ, then cried out how fitting it was for the Mother of the Saviour to be taken body and soul into heaven!

Alex

That’s wonderful. St. Thomas is one of my heros.

-Tim-

 

[ThatOneGuy92]

Yes, she lived in Ephesus which is modern-day Turkey with St John the Theologian (who was a relative of hers) and that is where the “Holy House of Loreto” was located.

St John’s empty tomb is at Ephesus - he was placed in it by his disciples at his directives while he was still ALIVE. They put the stone over it and when they came back the next day, he was not there. The East believes he was taken body and soul, while yet alive, to heaven. The East has a very high devotion to St John the Theologian (the Evangelist), just as it does to St John the Baptist. In the Syriac tradition, St John the Theologian is referred to as the “Son of Mary.”

Toward the end of her life, she returned to Jerusalem and visited the places associated with her Son. She would tell her friends, “This is where my Son Jesus fell carrying His Cross etc.”

She was very popular in Jerusalem and many people, Christians and Jews, would visit her for her counsel and prayers (and her miracle-working powers).

Her Son appeared to her to let her know that the time of their reunion in heaven was approaching.

According to tradition and a deuterocanonical book, she took that opportunity to ask her Son for a singular privilege. That privilege was that if anyone asked her for her assistance, she would be able to ask Him and He would grant it. Her Son agreed and granted her this privilege.

The Apostles were then in various places preaching the Gospel. They were born supernaturally back to Jerusalem for the funeral of the Most Holy Mother of God, except for Thomas.

The Apostles prayed and sang psalms during their sorrowful mourning of the Most Holy Virgin Mary before closing the tomb which is in the Garden of Gethsemane (a must see for any pilgrim to Jerusalem and I found it a most holy place!).

Thomas came afterwards but asked to see and reverence the body of the Most Holy Mother of God so the other Apostles went with him and opened her tomb.

But only flowers and the scent of holy flowers could be had in the tomb. Thomas, who doubted the Resurrection of Christ, then cried out how fitting it was for the Mother of the Saviour to be taken body and soul into heaven!

Alex

You know, there is always something I’ve wondered about that tradition. All the Apostles were there, right? How did that work for say, St. James the Just, who had been martyred? God sure does have thing for blowing our minds

 

[Alexander_Roman]

You know, there is always something I’ve wondered about that tradition. All the Apostles were there, right? How did that work for say, St. James the Just, who had been martyred? God sure does have thing for blowing our minds

Dear Friend,

As I understand it, St James of Jerusalem was not an apostle (?). I think he was one of the 70 disciples, but not an apostle.

Alex

 

[ThatOneGuy92]

Dear Friend,

As I understand it, St James of Jerusalem was not an apostle (?). I think he was one of the 70 disciples, but not an apostle.

Alex

Really? Huh. I always thought that St. James of Jerusalem was one of the Apostles.

 

[stephraim]

I believe some traditions equate James the Just/Jerusalem with the James the Less. Wasn’t he also still alive during the Dormition? Perhaps you’re referring to James the Great, brother of John the Evangelist, who was martyred ca. 44 AD. If I’m confusing my facts, forgive me.

 

[Dan_Daly]

Thank you all for the information.

Is there a feast on the Byzantine Liturgical calendar for the miracle of St. John being taken to Heaven body and soul?

According to tradition and a deuterocanonical book, she took that opportunity to ask her Son for a singular privilege. That privilege was that if anyone asked her for her assistance, she would be able to ask Him and He would grant it. Her Son agreed and granted her this privilege.

I would say that the proper term would be “apocryphal” book- not deuterocanonical. The deuterocanonical books ARE in the Bible.

Pax and God Bless.

 

[ThatOneGuy92]

Thank you all for the information.

Is there a feast on the Byzantine Liturgical calendar for the miracle of St. John being taken to Heaven body and soul?

I would say that the proper term would be “apocryphal” book- not deuterocanonical. The deuterocanonical books ARE in the Bible.

Pax and God Bless.

I think in the East, “deuterocanonical” is the equivalent of “apocryphal”. I think. I’m probably wrong, but I thought I had read that somewhere.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Thank you all for the information.

Is there a feast on the Byzantine Liturgical calendar for the miracle of St. John being taken to Heaven body and soul?

I would say that the proper term would be “apocryphal” book- not deuterocanonical. The deuterocanonical books ARE in the Bible.

Pax and God Bless.

Yes, on the Old Calendar it is May 8th.

With respect to those books, perhaps “extra-canonical” might be better. “Apocryphal” seems to suggest that the story wasn’t true or is doubtful. Those extra-canonical books and the information they contain about the lives of Mary, John, Joseph etc. have entered the liturgical prayers of the Eastern Church (another is the feast of the Entrance into the Temple of the Virgin Mary, the names of her parents etc.).

This does illustrate a different attitude toward those books that exists in the West. I personally love the60 Psalms and Odes of Solomon which were, at one time, widely used by Christians to prepare for Holy Communion.

Alex

 

[Alexander_Roman]

I believe some traditions equate James the Just/Jerusalem with the James the Less. Wasn’t he also still alive during the Dormition? Perhaps you’re referring to James the Great, brother of John the Evangelist, who was martyred ca. 44 AD. If I’m confusing my facts, forgive me.

St James the first Bishop of Jerusalem was one of the 70 Disciples of Jesus and one of the sons of St Joseph by his first wife.

According to tradition, when Joseph was dying he wanted to include Jesus in his last will and testament along with his other four sons. Those sons opposed that, save for James/Jacob who said he would split his inheritance from St Joseph with Jesus as he was a true brother etc.

He kept himself chaste and fasted much. As the first bishop of Jerusalem he was called “James the Just” even by non-Christians for his fairness and righteousness. It was he who was pushed from the high precipice of the Temple for preaching about Jesus.

His Liturgy is still used in the Eastern Churches, in the Miaphysite tradition much more frequently. Sts John Chrysostom and Basil the Great edited his liturgy for the Byzantine Churches.

In our iconography, he is called “St James the Brother of God.”

Alex

 

[ThatOneGuy92]

St James the first Bishop of Jerusalem was one of the 70 Disciples of Jesus and one of the sons of St Joseph by his first wife.

According to tradition, when Joseph was dying he wanted to include Jesus in his last will and testament along with his other four sons. Those sons opposed that, save for James/Jacob who said he would split his inheritance from St Joseph with Jesus as he was a true brother etc.

He kept himself chaste and fasted much. As the first bishop of Jerusalem he was called “James the Just” even by non-Christians for his fairness and righteousness. It was he who was pushed from the high precipice of the Temple for preaching about Jesus.

His Liturgy is still used in the Eastern Churches, in the Miaphysite tradition much more frequently. Sts John Chrysostom and Basil the Great edited his liturgy for the Byzantine Churches.

In our iconography, he is called “St James the Brother of God.”

Alex

Thank you for that information. Growing up I suppose I always assumed that St. James the Just was one of the Apostles. Though now that I think about it, I can’t remember if I was ever taught that…
Runs to read book to find out