Explanation of Nativity Icon in St. Stephen Parish

 

The icon of the Nativity tells the story of Christ's birth from the Scriptures. It also shows that all creation is taking part in Christ's birth.

MARY: The focus of the icon, of course, is on the birth of our Lord - Jesus Christ from His most pure virgin mother Mary. She is shown larger than any of the other figures, resting on a red in a cave, with Jesus in his swaddling clothes by her side.

CAVE: The dark cave in which Christ was born represents the world dark with sin, and His birth is a light in this darkness.

MANGER: Notice that the manger is like a casket. The Child Jesus is wrapped like a mummy because, He was born to die. His swaddling clothes are very much like the grave clothes symbolically foreshadow His death and burial. In this way the Icon links birth and death.

ANIMALS: In almost all icons of the Nativity you will see the ox and the donkey looking at Christ as he lies in the manger providing warmth from their breath. This is a reference to the prophecy of the book of Isaiah 1:3: "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." The animals illustrate and reminding us that all God's creation, except most of mankind, welcomed His Son into the world.

STRANGE LOOK: Mary on the icon is looking not at her new-born Son, but rather with love and compassion towards her spouse Joseph. The artist paints Mary like this to remind us that the birth of Jesus - like any birth - was hard work and that it was a human event. She is lying down because she is tired, her maternity is real and not an illusion. Mary is resting on the icon and she is not turned towards the child but towards us, because she is Mother of all men.

 

ST. JOSEPH: In the lower left corner sits a confused and dejected St. Joseph. The Rightness Joseph is depicted away from Jesus and Mary, even though, Joseph is righteous and protects Mary and Jesus, but he is not involved in the miracle of the incarnation of the Son of God.

He is being confronted by the devil disguised as a young man, who is trying to persuade Joseph that it is impossible for a child to be born from a virgin.

In the person of Joseph, the icon discloses not only his personal drama, but the drama of all mankind, the difficulty of accepting that which is beyond reason, the Incarnation of God.


TWO WOMEN: In the lower right are two midwives brought by Joseph to attend Mary are washing the child Jesus. The humanity of Jesus is clearly shown in this setting. This indicates that Jesus was born in the normal way and would have needed washing, as a regular human baby would.


TREE: The tree, which is in the middle of the lower part of the icon, is a symbol of the Tree of Jesse. This tree refers to Isaiah 11:1-2 that says, "A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him." King David was often mentioned as the son of Jesse and Jesus was from the House of David

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The other elements of the icon scene are part of the canonical Gospel stories.

STAR: Above this central composition, in the very center of the icon is the star of Bethlehem coming from heaven, which led the magi or wise men to the place where our Savior was born. The Star's ray is depicted as pointing from heaven, emphasizing its miraculous quality.

ANGELS: The angels are glorifying God ministering and announcing the Good News to the shepherds.



MAGI: To the right, the magi led by the star came from the East to pay homage to the little Boy King Jesus and they brought Him a king's treasure: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The Wise Men are of various ages. One is without a beard. In those days, young men did not wear beards. The other Wise Man has long hair and a long beard, which indicates that he is much older. These details teach that regardless of age and appearance, the Good News was given to each and everyone.


Finally, as we look at the icon as one united composition, we can only be filled with joy, not only because of the bright colors and the festive activity depicted, but for the joyous news of our salvation so clearly proclaimed by it. In it, all creation is rejoicing at the birth of our Lord: the heavens (a star and angels); the earth (the mountains, plants and animals}; and especially mankind, represented most perfectly in the figure of the new Eve, the most pure Mother of God.