annunciation

One of the most striking features of a Byzantine style church is the extensive use of iconography, with images often covering most if not all of the walls inside the sanctuary. Upon entering this sacred space, we see the scriptures come to life through the imagery, colors, and events that are depicted. The icons speak to us in a theologically correct way and convey deep meaning about spiritual realities that are often beyond our comprehension. And while the cumulative effect of so many images is quite powerful, each individual icon offers us the same experience. A good example can be seen in the icon of the Annunciation.

Imagine being one of the earliest iconographers. With scripture as a guide and inspired by the Holy Spirit, they had to figure out how to portray such a great mystery in a manner that would render the meaning accessible to all. As we read in the gospel of Luke, it’s the moment when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that, with her consent, she would conceive a child without seed. And not just any child, but rather the uncreated and eternal God.

The action occurs indoors, as indicated by the red fabric swag draped across the structures in the background. In the foreground, the Archangel Gabriel appears before Mary:

“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

The archangel is depicted with one wing upraised and his feet apart as if he were running. The posture of his body gives a sense of motion and captures the urgency and and great joy of his message. With his right arm he imparts a blessing while with his left he holds a staff that is the symbol of his authority as a messenger of God.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor ...

... middle of paper ...

... flesh and the blue underneath symbolizing the divinity she bore within herself.

Through bright colors, we see the joyful message of the angel delivered to the virgin. We also learn of this great event through the hymns that are chanted throughout the year. In them, Mary is known as the living ark, the burning bush yet not consumed, the golden jar of manna who held in her womb the pre-eternal God, Who by a word created the entire universe. She is proclaimed to be the one who contained He that was uncontainable, thus proving that she was more spacious than the heavens. During the Orthros service on the Feast of the Annunciation, we hear chanted that which is depicted through the icon and, with our senses engaged through the sights, sounds, and the smell of incense, our minds are lifted higher so that we too may be able to better understand such a great mystery.