Stations of the Resurrection
PENTECOST
Meditations by Terry Tastatd
Original Icons by Carolne Lees
John 16:13-14
[Jesus said:} "When
the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will
not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to
you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is
mine and declare it to you."
This icon depicts
Pentecost, but not as a onetime-only event in the past. Rather, it helps us to understand
Pentecost as a process continuing through all ages and countries, as the Spirit
of God moves over the world.
The Spirit is depicted
as an orb, like the sun, its rays reaching down toward Mary and the apostles. As
the Spirit flickers toward them, we notice that its symbolic rays are coloured green,
a reminder that fruitfulness is one of the gifts of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit
also who drives the Church outward, making us evangelists. If we believe in God,
we cannot stand still. .We must give an account of the hope that is in us. The fruits
of this are seen in the figure of the king emerging out of darkness. We know that
in history missionaries often converted kings first, because this would encourage
their followers to come after them. So the king represents the achievement of the
Church in bringing the gospel to the pagan world.
The king has heard
the good news of Christ risen from the dead; hence he carries in his hand white
garments. These garments remind us of Christ, set free from the tomb, just like
the king who emerges out of darkness. But the white garments are also a symbol
of baptismal robes, baptism setting the seal on our Christian commitment and joining
us to the mystical body of Christ, the Church.
Around the tomb
the apostles and Mary give their affirmation. The hands of the apostles are lifted
in blessing, while the arms of Mary rise in praise and intercession. She pleads
for many, constantly, for of all the saints in eternity she has been uniquely privileged.
Looking at the icon we see that around her head are Greek words that tell us that
she is "Mother of God." Through
her, the Christ, the Messiah, has come into the world, human and divine.
There is a unity
here among the apostles and Mary. Each figure is distinct, yet each sits comfortably
with the others, for the unity of the Church does not mean uniformity, but rather
harmony. Some of the disciples are robed
in red, because in the history of the Church in virtually every age, there have
been men and women who have paid for their faith with their lives.
We adore you and praise you, O Risen Lord
Because
by your death and resurrection you give life to the world.
We
are one people,
drawn
from many nations. Holy Spirit,
go-between
God,
weave
your people ever more closely together so that our faith in action
and
the joy of our worship
may
draw others to know you.
Pentecost
10th. of twelve Orthodox Feasts
 |
| One of the 12 Icons on the wall of abbey offices cloister. |
12 Otherwise called, "Festival Row" of an iconostasis screen.
Interest for further discovery.
