Now, we are in the post-festive time of Christmas. On this occasion, in our St. Luke chapel, Father Roman administered a blessing for the Nativity icon. The icon was hung under the proskomydiynyk table, where a priest prepares gifts for sanctifying. Proskomydia is the first part of the Divine Liturgy and represents the scene of the Nativity.
Here is some explanation about the icon:
The celebration and praise of the Birth of Christ have been ingrained in Christian traditions throughout history, marking a pivotal moment in the faith. In earlier times, the Word of God manifested as an angel or the divine fire of the burning bush. However, in the present era, a significant shift has occurred – the Word has chosen to be among us, not merely as a fully-grown man descending from Heaven, but with profound humility, being born of a woman and entering the world as a small, wordless infant. The Nativity Icon vividly captures this pivotal historical event, and it serves as a focal point around which various stories related to the birth of Jesus Christ are portrayed.
The conventional form of the Nativity Icon, with minimal variations, originated around the 15th century, drawing inspiration from much older sources, including Old Testament prophecies, New Testament Gospel accounts, and ancient narratives detailing the life of the Virgin Mary.
The New Testament in the Nativity Icon.
In the Nativity Icon, the New Testament narrative unfolds with the portrayal of the infant Christ and His mother within a cave, surrounded by harsh, jagged rocks that mirror the inhospitable world into which Jesus was born. The Gospels recount the difficulty Joseph and Mary faced in finding lodging during the census in Bethlehem, leading to the baby Jesus being placed in a manger, traditionally an animal’s feeding trough. The depiction of the “stable” in the Icon aligns with the historical context of animals being housed in caves and hillside recesses.
A prominent star in the sky directs its single shaft towards the newborn Jesus, symbolizing the celestial guidance of the Magi, wise Persians from the East, who are en route with gifts for the Christ. Yet, in the distance, the Magi are still on their journey, emphasizing their absence from the immediate scene.
Above, a multitude of angels joyfully heralds the birth of the world’s Savior. On the right, the shepherds, a marginalized group in society, are the first recipients of the Good News about Jesus’ birth. However, they are depicted outside the cave, still tending to their flocks, underscoring that they have not yet reached Christ’s side.
Apart from His mother, Jesus Christ’s initial companions in the early hours of His earthly life are a humble ox and donkey, highlighting the profound humility of God’s incarnation on earth.
The Old Testament in the Nativity Icon.
The modesty of Christ’s origins aligns with prophecies foretold many centuries before His birth. In the Nativity Icon, the inclusion of the Ox and the Donkey fulfills one such prophecy from the Old Testament book of Isaiah: “The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib” (Isaiah 1:3). These animals, depicted in the icon, also symbolize providing warmth to Jesus through their breath.
Another recurrent element in most Nativity icons is the “Jesse Tree,” named after the Old Testament patriarch. Its presence serves as a reminder of the fulfillment of yet another prophecy from Isaiah: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump (tree) of Jesse, and from his roots, a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him” (Isaiah 11:1-2). In the flesh, Jesus can trace His lineage through both His mother and adoptive father, Joseph, all the way back to Jesse. This ancestral connection is sometimes depicted in Icons of the Jesse Tree.
Other Ancient Texts in the Nativity Icon.
The Protoevangelium of James, a 2nd-century text detailing the life of the Virgin Mary, serves as another significant source for the narrative of Jesus’ birth. This account offers a more detailed perspective than the Gospels and introduces additional characters involved in the Nativity. According to this text, Joseph enlisted the help of two women, a midwife and a figure named Salome, during the birth of Jesus. Salome is later identified as a disciple of Christ, the mother of Apostles James and John, and one of the women who discovered the empty tomb after Christ’s resurrection.
However, the portrayal of Joseph in Orthodox Icons diverges from the familiar Western Nativity scenes. In these icons, Joseph is typically positioned at the bottom, separated from Mary and the infant Jesus. Often depicted listening to an old man, Joseph appears troubled, grappling with doubts about the extraordinary nature of this birth. The Protoevangelium records that Satan, taking the form of an old man, delivers these doubts to Joseph, suggesting that if Jesus were truly divine, His birth would not follow a human process. Although these doubts did not lead Joseph astray, they have persisted throughout history, giving rise to various heresies concerning the nature of Christ.
In the icon, Joseph’s personal struggle mirrors the universal human challenge of accepting the incomprehensible, the Incarnation of God. Beyond proclaiming the joyous news of Christ’s birth, the icon, much like the hymns of the Church, acknowledges the profound mystery inherent in this event.
How is He contained in a womb, whom nothing can contain?
And how can He who is in the bosom of the Father
be held in the arms of His Mother?
This is according to His good pleasure,
as He knows and wishes.
For being without flesh,
of His own will has He been made flesh;
and He Who Is,
for our sakes has become that which He was not.
Without departing from His own nature
He has shared in our substance.
Desiring to fill the world on high with citizens,
Christ has undergone a twofold birth.
