+ Glory to God now and forever!                

Reflections on The ICONOGRAPHY of LIFE Icon

Icon written by the hand of Kristina Maria Sadley – ProphecyDesignsIcons.com

Before I formed you, in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I dedicated you (Jeremiah 1:5)

Truly you have formed my inmost being: You knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13)

God created man in His image, in His image He created him, male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27)

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love… (1 John 5:16)     

‘Blest are you among women; blest is the fruit of your womb (Luke 1:42)

Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up my hands, like the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2)

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the Angel’s hand (Rev.8:4)

Seraphim were stationed above; each had six wings; with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet and with two they hovered aloft.  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! They cried one to the other.  ‘All the earth is filled with His glory!’  (Isaiah 6:2-3)  

For to his Angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:11)

Then God said: ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night…’  (Genesis 1:14-17)

Wise men saw the star in the east and came to worship (Matthew 2:1)

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him (1 John 5:16)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory:  The glory of an only Son coming from the Father filled with enduring love (John 1:14)

MP OY – Theotokos; Birth-giver of God.  Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God is depicted in ancient iconography with an outer (earthly) garment of deep, purple red wool; She who bore the Lamb of God.  The transparent image of Christ on Her garment indicates His Presence within Her womb.  (Luke 1:26-55) The blue of Her inner (heavenly) garment represents the inner light and purity of Her soul.

IC XC –  from the Greek letters meaning JESUS (IHCOYC) CHRIST (XPICTOC)

Halo lettering:  N -O -W Greek letters meaning ‘He who is’  Christ is the Cross of Salvation -Icon board wood/Tree of our Salvation

NIKA – letters surrounding the cross at top of icon- Divine darkness is depicted of the Father, through which the Holy Spirit descends

HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL – Holds a transparent ORB, representing the Trinity of God (Genesis 1: 27 and Psalm 141:2) From the time of our conception until Paradise, our soul is held safe for God by our Holy Guardian Angel.

‘More honorable than the Cherubim

And beyond compare more glorious

Than the Seraphim,

Thee who without corruption

Gave birth to God the Word,

The very Theotokos, do we magnify.

All the hosts of the Heavens

Praise Thee, and unto Thee

Do they send up glory to the Father,

And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,