Savior Not Made by Hands, In Thee Rejoiceth

A double-sided tablet icon, with a figure of the Savior not Made by Hands on the front side and the inscription “In Thee Rejoiceth” on the back. A donation from Mrs. Rockfeller.

In Thee Rejoiceth

The icon was named after the first words of a hymn dedicated to the Mother of God: “Of thee Rejoiceth, the Gracious…” The Holy Virgin is portrayed in the Garden of Eden against a multidomed church – the symbol of Heavenly Jerusalem. By the foot of the throne, upon which is seated the Mother of God with the Child, stands the author of the hymn, St. John of Damascus, holding a scroll with the words of the hymn. Below is a host of Orthodox saints glorifying the Holy Virgin.

Frame for the icon. Our Lady of Kazan

Frame for the icon Our Lady of Kazan.

In Thee Rejoiceth

The iconography of “In Thee Rejoiceth” ultimately developed by the late 15^th century. The scene is based on a hymn glorifying the Theotokos “In Thee reojoiceth all creation” by John Damascene – a Byzantine saint of the 8^th century who fought against iconoclasm. In the center of the icon is the Mother of God with the Child on the lap, seated on a throne in a halo of the Divine glory. The main concept of the icon is the glorifying of the “blessed Mary” by all Divine creations – angels, people, trees, birds.

In Thee Rejoiceth

Against the background of the temple is the Mother of God with the Divine Child on Her lap sitting on the throne surrounded by the glorious aureole, being held by the two angels.