Orthodox icon | Easter and the Twelve Great Feasts | 24769

Orthodox icon | Easter and the Twelve Great Feasts | 24769.

The depiction of the Resurrection lies at the center, showcasing Christ rising from the grave and descending into the underworld, the realm of the dead. Christ stands on the demolished gates of Hades, pulling Adam and Eve out from the jaws of death. Old Testament saints accompany them, led by an angel and John the Baptist. The Grateful Thief and the Prophet Elias are present in paradise.

In the top left corner, Peter stands at the grave, while the bottom right corner shows Jesus and Peter at the Sea of Galilee.

The icon also features key events from the lives of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ:

1. The Nativity of the Mother of God, celebrated on September 21 (or September 8), shows Anna resting with servants around her and Joachim in a prayer position. The child’s bathing scene is displayed below.
2. The Presentation of the Mother of God, celebrated on December 4 (or November 21), captures Mary’s encounter with High Priest Zacharias at the temple in Jerusalem, where she lived until she was fifteen.
3. The Annunciation of the Mother of God, celebrated on April 7 (or March 25), displays the Archangel Gabriel bringing the joyous news of the Savior’s birth to the Virgin Mary.
4. The Birth of Christ, celebrated on January 7 (or December 25), illustrates the nativity in the cave, with the Blessed Mother resting and the child in the crib. The Three Wise Men are shown next to the crib.
5. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, celebrated on February 15 (or February 2), portrays the Blessed Mother and Joseph presenting the infant Jesus to God at the temple, where they meet the aged Simeon and the prophetess Hanna.
6. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, celebrated on January 19 (or January 6), features the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. Angels stand on the other riverbank, with the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above.
7. The Entry into Jerusalem, celebrated on the Sunday before Holy Week after Lazarus Saturday, shows Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey a week before His crucifixion.
8. The Transfiguration of Christ, celebrated on August 19 (or August 6), portrays the glorified Christ in white robes, flanked by the prophets Moses and Elijah, with Peter, James, and John kneeling below.
9. The Ascension of Christ, celebrated 40 days after Easter, illustrates Christ ascending to heaven from the Mount of Olives, surrounded by his disciples.
10. The Feast of the Cross or Exaltation of the Cross, celebrated on September 27 (or September 14), depicts the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Makarios, presenting the cross of the Lord to the people in the presence of Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena.
11. Pentecost (Holy Trinity), celebrated seven weeks after Easter, features the scene of Abraham receiving three men (interpreted as angels), seen as an early depiction of the divine trinity.
12. The Dormition of the Mother of God, celebrated on August 28 (or August 15), illustrates the Mother of God on her deathbed, surrounded by the apostles, with Christ carrying a swaddled infant symbolizing her soul.

The icon’s background features poliment-gilded elements.

Source: Orthodox icon | Easter and the Twelve Great Feasts | 24769 © Ikonen Mautner. Typing errors, other errors or changes reserved. For more information: “Das Synaxarion. Die Leben der Heiligen der Orthodoxen Kirche.” (http://www.prodromos-verlag.de/buecher.html) and Joachim Schäfer: Das Ökumenische Heiligenlexikon – https://www.heiligenlexikon.de