Icons of Russia: The Resurrection of Christ. There is NO icon of the Resurrection of Christ in Orthodox iconography
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is often called the cornerstone of Orthodoxy and all Christianity in general. This event was reflected in the main holiday of all believers - Easter. It is always celebrated on a grand scale and is considered the most important day for any person who considers himself a Christian. It is not surprising that this event found numerous reflections in iconography. Icon " Christ's Resurrection"is considered one of the most revered and widespread in our time, but even in ancient times, painters tried to embody this plot more than once in their works. Interestingly, this icon has several completely different variations. Moreover, each of them is perceived by the Church as true and not contrary to the canons. Today you will learn about the meaning of the “Resurrection of Christ” icon, what this image helps with and how similar icons appeared.
Complexity of the image
The image of the Resurrection of Christ is one of the most complex. This is due to the fact that the event itself had no real witnesses, and all ideas about it were taken from written sources containing fragmentary information about how Christ appeared to women and his disciples. It is noteworthy that the painters themselves considered the images reflected in the icon of the Resurrection of Christ to be indescribable. After all, the human mind cannot fully comprehend what a miracle the Lord performed by resurrecting His Son. And it is even more impossible to depict in detail exactly how the mortified flesh came to life and what happened at that moment with Christ.
It is interesting that any of the famous icons of the “Bright Resurrection of Christ” is distinguished by its richness of characters. One canvas depicts numerous figures that are closely associated with the Resurrection of Christ and subsequent events. Often the authors placed them in different plots next to each other. And sometimes they were located in registers, which allowed believers to piece together a whole story filled with deep meaning.
As Christianity developed and strengthened, the images on the icons of the “Resurrection of Christ” also changed. The modern execution of this plot differs significantly from the very first icons that appeared at the dawn of the formation of the religious movement. In the following sections of the article we will look at the process of the appearance of various variations on the theme of the Resurrection of Christ, as well as the types of icons that the Church classifies as classical.
Iconographic types
It is difficult to even imagine how complex the images of the Resurrection of Christ were formed by the holy fathers. After all, they were faced with a very difficult task - to convey the meaning of a great event that no one saw with their own eyes. Therefore, over time, the scenes depicted on the icons began to acquire a certain limited character. Gradually, a church canon was formed, from which all subsequent painters started.
It is interesting that such a widespread icon of the “Resurrection of Christ” is not at all a classic one. The story of the Savior's descent into hell is considered more traditional. The fact is that until the moment of the miraculous Resurrection of Jesus, the gates of heaven were closed to souls. And only when Christ descended into the underworld to raise the souls of the righteous and preachers from the graves were believers able to receive eternal life. This particular story is considered classic, like all icons with a similar plot. It is worth noting that when we talk about canons, we mean Orthodox traditions. But western church made its own adjustments to the storyline about the Resurrection of Christ.
The Western holy fathers preferred to create icons depicting the Savior at the tomb or appearing to the myrrh-bearing women. There are numerous variations on these subjects; one of the most famous is the icon “The Resurrection of Christ with the Holidays.”
It is noteworthy that according to the laws of Christianity, every action must be clearly regulated and confirmed by dogmas. This protects the church from any heresy and false teaching. Over the long years of its existence, the Christian religion has not only been subjected to numerous persecutions, but has also experienced attacks from new teachings that position themselves as the only true ones.
A serious dogmatic approach is also reflected in church art. On icons, every smallest detail should not go beyond accepted norms and dogmatic teachings. But the icon of the “Resurrection of Christ” absolutely does not correspond to the rules formed over centuries. It is not based on canonical sources of information, which puts it in the category of unique paintings.
It is noteworthy that everything depicted in the icon we are describing is based on the Gospel of Nicodemus. This source of information dates back to the fifth century AD and describes in great detail all the events that occurred since the Resurrection of Christ, including his descent into hell. However, the canonical church completely rejects this source, which, however, does not prevent icon painters from relying on it in their works.
Icon “Resurrection of Christ”: meaning
The significance of this icon is difficult to overestimate; it can be considered fundamental in Christianity. After all, it is she who tells believers about events that are confirmation of eternal life. In his gospel, Nicodemus described how, having risen from the tomb, Christ descended into the underworld to take the souls of people with him. He crushed the gates that the unclean spirits had locked, fearing the loss of those who languished within these dark confines.
For the Savior, it did not matter what a person did during his lifetime. He took with him everyone who wanted to leave. This shows the power of the Creator and his mercy towards the souls of people. And also reminds modern people that we still make our own choices and determine where we will go after death. After all, the Savior died so that every soul could accept the gift of eternal life. And at the appointed time, he will come to earth again and determine the measure of punishment or reward for all those who have died and are now living.
This is why the holy fathers consider it so important to show the Resurrection of Christ, because this is the most striking victory of life over death and good over evil.
Prayer before the icon
How does the icon of the Resurrection of Christ help? This question is often asked by Orthodox Christians who plan to purchase this image for their home iconostasis. It is believed that believers will definitely receive an answer to any sincere prayer said near this icon. After all, when praying, a Christian turns almost directly to God through His Son. In this case, any prayer reaches the Creator much faster, because the one asking asks in His name.
The icon especially helps those who want to get rid of sins and ask for strength in order to take the true path. Christ will never refuse such a request and will lead a person along, giving him the priceless gift of eternal life. Therefore, any Orthodox Christian tries to decorate his home with the icon of the Resurrection of Christ in order to receive protection and blessing.
First images
In the first three centuries, when there was persecution of Christians, most icons on the theme of the Resurrection of Christ were a little allegorical. This was due to the emergence of church art and numerous concerns of believers. As the basis for the composition, the icon painters of that time took texts from the Old Testament, which told about the prophet Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of a whale and was torn out from there by the will of the Creator. Many theologians have argued and continue to argue that this plot was a kind of prehistory of the Resurrection of Christ. After all, he spent three days in the tomb and only after that he appeared again to the apostles, as he had previously predicted.
By the fourth century, the image of Jesus Christ began to be traced in church painting. He gradually replaces Jonah, and the plot becomes more action-packed. In it you can already see real illustrations of the Gospel texts.
Byzantine Orthodox art
In the fifth century, a significant change was planned in icon painting on the theme of the Resurrection of Christ. Byzantine masters made a significant contribution to this process. For the first time, they began to depict on icons not only Christ himself, but also other characters, forming a real storyline in one work. The apostles, the myrrh-bearing women and Jesus himself, rising from the tomb, were painted on a single canvas.
One of the icons, dating back to the fifth century, depicts not only Christ himself, but also the place where he was buried. The Holy Sepulcher and the rotunda built on this site by Constantine the Great are depicted here in detail.
Works of tenth century icon painters
From this period, many painters depicting scenes of the Resurrection of Christ began to focus the attention of believers on the descent of the Creator into hell and the withdrawal of all willing souls from there. Theologians connect this with the spread of the texts of Nicodemus, which we mentioned earlier.
However, the icons themselves are not yet distinguished by the abundance of details. The storyline is very clear and does not deviate from the main narrative. Also, believers are not distracted by additional characters whom they tried not to bring to the fore.
Icons: fourteenth to nineteenth centuries
During this time period storyline becomes as complicated as possible, and the number of characters depicted on the icon increases. Christ is surrounded by angels in many of his works; they are a symbol of virtue. According to the painters' idea, they strike the sinful principle in the form of demons and demons with spears. The Savior leads Adam and Eve out of hell first, and behind them a crowd of other souls are visible who want to leave the underworld. In the description of the fourteenth-century icon of the Resurrection of Christ, which is considered a classic, one can add an image of a cross. It becomes a symbol of eternal life and victory over evil in any of its manifestations. It is interesting that a similar icon is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery.
We can say that the work of this period is carried out main task, standing in front of icons telling about the triumph of light over darkness. Such striking works include the icon “The Resurrection of Christ” by Rublev. It dates back to the fifteenth century, and it fully complies with all the canons adopted at that time. on her close up depicts how the Savior leads the first people out of hell and opens the gates for other souls.
The formation of the iconography of the Resurrection of Christ
We can say that by the seventeenth century, icon painters had decided on the canons corresponding to this subject. By the nineteenth century, icons became a kind of illustration of the righteous life of a Christian. A rule that he must adhere to with all his might.
Since that time, the semantic component of such works has remained virtually unchanged. Some additions were made to the composition, which only became more complicated in the future. Western masters made a certain contribution to this, presenting scenes in which Christ hovers over the tomb, surrounded by a white cloth.
The difference between Orthodox and Western images
Since the times of Byzantine culture, certain canons began to form, which Orthodox painters clearly adhered to. In their execution, the icon of the Resurrection of Christ appeared in its traditional form. The Savior is depicted in the center of the canvas, standing on the broken gates of hell. At his feet on both sides are the coffins of Adam and Eve. From them he raises by the hands the ancestors of all people on earth. Behind him are the righteous, among whom you can recognize King Solomon, Moses, John the Baptist and other personalities. At the very bottom of the icon, the underworld with all its horrors is often depicted in a few strokes.
The classic Western look looks completely different. It is not symbolic, but a more accurate reflection of ancient events. In the icon, Christ is depicted near his tomb, surrounded by angels. The Savior is dressed in shining white clothes, and in his hands is a blinding banner, symbolizing the triumph of light and goodness.
Church in Sokolniki
There are about five hundred churches in Russia, named after the most important event in Christianity. One of the most unusual is the church in Sokolniki. It was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the project itself, based on the traditions of Russian architecture, has a clear reference to Art Nouveau.
The temple has nine domes and three porches, decorated with exquisite carvings and arches. The structure is distinguished by a certain fragility that has become its distinctive feature. The icons in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki are considered real Orthodox shrines. Their names are dear to the heart of every Orthodox person: the icon of St. Panteleimon, the icon of the Passionate Mother of God, the substitute icon of the Bogolyubskaya Mother of God.
The Resurrection of Christ is of key importance in the Christian faith, giving believers hope for salvation and eternal life. Without faith in Holy Sunday, Christianity loses all meaning. When I talk to atheists about my faith, they cannot accept the fact of the resurrection of the body. However, you need to believe with your heart, not your mind. Faith is given to us as the grace of God, as a miracle. In this article I will tell you about the meaning of this important event in the life of every person, about the holiday of Easter and prayer for this solemn occasion.
The Resurrection of the Savior brought the good news of the salvation of mankind. After his death, Jesus went down to hell, defeated the devil and was resurrected. He was resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, and this became irrefutable proof of his divine nature. The news of the miraculous resurrection spread across many cities, and the Savior repeatedly appeared to his disciples and faithful followers. One of the people of little faith named Thomas doubted the reality of the resurrection, but changed his mind when he put his own fingers into the wounds of the Savior.
Interpretation of the prayer
Since that time, Christians have celebrated the bright holiday of Easter, during which they remember this important event for every person. At the end of the all-night vigil Easter service a special prayer is sung: “Having seen the Resurrection of Christ.” The text of this prayer is not complicated; anyone can learn it. This prayer is also sung on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, Christmas, and Lazarus Saturday.
The purpose of Christ's sacrifice is the redemption of humanity from spiritual death and the acquisition of the kingdom of God.
Many Christians consider Christmas to be the main holiday, but in fact it is Easter - the bright resurrection of Christ - that is important. With the holiday of Easter, a new liturgical cycle in the church begins. Jesus gave everyone a powerful weapon against the devil - the holy cross. Now every believer has power over the devil and his own sin, the cross of the Lord helps in this.
Having seen the Resurrection of Christ - text of the prayer:
1. Having seen the Resurrection of Christ
Why does the prayer mention that someone saw the resurrection of Christ? Not a single person was present at this event. The Church Fathers teach that this refers to the personal resurrection of every Christian: he was reborn to spiritual life with the rite of baptism. We have been resurrected in a new spiritual body, free from temptation and sin. The newly baptized begin new life in Christ, and old life buried and forgotten. When we leave the baptismal font, a new soul and a new body are born into the world.
2. To the only sinless one
Jesus was the only person on earth with a divine nature. All other people are born in sin, and remain sinners. Salvation is given to us as a gift from God, an ineffable mercy. Christ became the willing sacrifice for our sins so that we could be saved. Every Christian must remember at what price he was redeemed from the clutches of death - by the holy blood of the Savior.
3. Worship your cross, O Christ
Death on the cross was considered the most shameful and terrible thing in those days. The crucified man did not die immediately, but suffered for some time. Christ turned the instrument of shame and torture into a symbol of victory over the devil. He consecrated the cross with his suffering and blood. Therefore, Christians worship the Cross as a symbol of victory over sin and punishment.
The symbol of the cross did not arise by chance, and it is not by chance that we cross ourselves. When the first Christians were subjected to terrible torture and had their tongues cut out so that they would not preach salvation, they crossed themselves before execution. This showed people that martyrs accepted death for Christ. Thanks to sign of the cross and the fearlessness of the martyrs before death, many pagans accepted the Christian faith.
4. If you are our God, don’t we know otherwise to You?
Here Jesus is declared to be God, the only begotten Son. These words mean that the Christian has realized the mercy of God's gift of salvation. We cannot repay this priceless gift with anything, only with our sincere faith.
5. We call Your name
In the Old Testament it was forbidden to say holy name god, and only once a year the high priest had the right to name him. But with the teachings of Christ, now everyone can pronounce the name of God without fear of punishment. You just need to say it with worship in your heart, and not for every trifle.
6. Come, all the faithful, let us worship the holy resurrection of Christ
In the Christian faith, it is very important to be like-minded followers of Christ and glorify his resurrection with one soul. The Savior commanded us this when he said: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, and I am among them.”
Icon of the Resurrection
The icon depicts the resurrection of Jesus, holding the hands of the first man, Adam. Thanks to its death on the cross Christ was able to save all people who were in the vale of sorrow. The Savior's feet stand on the broken gates of hell, which very symbolically expresses his victory over the devil.
On other icons you can see the Savior emerging from the tomb, with angels at his feet. Often, icon painters depict horrified guards and pious myrrh-bearers in order to show the full picture of what is happening.
The icon in which Magdalene meets the risen Savior is also revered. The icon painters emphasized the characteristic gesture of Christ, who forbids touching himself.
What should we pray to this icon for? The believer must remember that his goal is to imitate Christ in everything. When we look at the icon of the Resurrection, we must understand that we need to change and become like the Savior every day. He left the only commandment to humanity: “Love one another.” This is all that every Christian needs to do daily.
Prayer before the icon:
- cleanses the mind of bad thoughts;
- strengthens in faith;
- gives peace of mind;
- helps you find meaning in life.
Prayer fills our hearts with the joy of salvation, strengthens the spirit and calms the heart. The glorification of God should become the meaning of our earthly life, because after death we find ourselves in his abode - the kingdom of God.
The most important event in the Orthodox world is the Resurrection of the Lord. In honor of this, an icon of the same name was painted, to which people turn for help in various life situations.
The Holy Resurrection of Christ is a symbol of faith, truth and the victory of good over evil. This is a central event in the history of Christianity, without which there would be no faith itself. The Easter holiday is celebrated by every believer, and prayers offered in front of the icon will certainly be heard.
History of the icon
In Orthodoxy, there is no icon depicting the Resurrection of the Lord. But there are many images, mosaics and painted paintings that tell about the stories recorded in Scripture. Icons may depict the Lord descending into hell in order to take with him the souls of the Old Testament righteous and transfer them to the Kingdom of Heaven. However, the grandiose holiday of the Resurrection of Christ does not become less significant without a specific icon.
Description of the image
In Orthodox iconography there is no icon of the Resurrection of Christ, but there is a familiar image of Christ in a snow-white robe, who comes out of his tomb with a banner in his hand. This is one of the many versions of the iconographic image of the great event.
In art dating back to the ancient Christian era, the Resurrection of Christ was traditionally depicted in symbolic form. Icon painters used images from the Old Testament, from which everyone could draw an analogy to one or another event depicted on the icon. The absence in the Gospel of a story about the Resurrection itself was the reason that the story itself was not depicted on icons at first.
In early Byzantine art, the tomb of the Lord began to be depicted on icons, and much later, icons began to depict the Savior’s descent into hell after burial.
What does an icon help with?
In front of the icon of the Lord himself, you can pray for anything. The clergy recommend starting your prayer with words of gratitude to the Savior, who sacrificed himself for the salvation of everyone living on earth. Prayer words can be offered in any situation, if you need help or support, a blessing for some matter, or healing from an illness. Every word coming from the heart will definitely be heard.
Where is the divine image located?
There are about 500 churches in Russia named after greatest event Resurrection of Christ. They contain icons and other works of iconographic art depicting a solemn event:
- the city of Moscow, churches in Kadashi and Sokolniki;
- St. Petersburg, Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Smolny Novodevichy Convent;
- city of Pskov;
- city of Uglich, Resurrection Monastery;
- city of Tomsk;
- city of Tula, Cathedral of All Saints.
Many temples, churches, cathedrals and monasteries contain not only icons, but also paintings and mosaic paintings depicting the Resurrection of Christ. Parishioners come to the holy face not only on holidays, but also at any time when they need Divine help.
Prayer before the icon
“Let us worship the Resurrection of the Lord, and give glory to the One Lord Jesus. You, who have trampled heretics, who have brought repentance to all living people, who have washed away the sins of people with your blood, do not abandon your faithful servants in the hour of sorrow and difficulty. Heal our souls and bodies, so that we may proclaim the Word of God and glorify throughout the centuries the faith in the Triune Lord. Amen".
You can tell without hiding what worries you, ask for advice from Higher Powers, pray for your family and for everyone living on earth.
Date of celebration of the icon
The icon belongs to the ancient Christian holiday, which was installed in honor of the Resurrection of Christ - Easter. In Orthodoxy it is called the Feast of Holidays and the Celebration of Celebrations. On this day, festive services are held, and the date is moving.
In Orthodoxy, the day of the Resurrection of Christ is a key event, so every believer celebrates this holiday with their family. Believers attend solemn services to offer words of praise to the Lord, pray for protection, patronage and forgiveness of sins. We wish you happiness and peace, and don't forget to press the buttons and
08.04.2018 05:35
The icon of the Lord Pantocrator is one of the most important symbols among Orthodox believers. The famous image of Jesus Christ...
Icon of the Resurrection of Christ depicts the central event Christian faith, her cornerstone. If there had not been the Resurrection of Christ, then not only would there not have been Christianity, but also faith in God, in the power of goodness and truth, might have been undermined, and the meaning of the life of an Orthodox Christian would have been lost. The apostles said: “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain (in vain), and our faith is also vain.” “But Christ was raised from the dead, the firstborn of those who died” (i.e. He is the beginning of our future resurrection) (1 Cor. 15, 14, 20).
The moment of the Resurrection of Christ is incomprehensible in its essence for man, which is why the Savior appeared to his disciples for forty days with true evidence of his Resurrection (he allowed the disciples to touch the wounds from nails and spears, ate in front of them, etc.) and talked with them about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. And only having been imbued with faith, the apostles begin to preach, while they speak about the Resurrection of Christ not as an event only in his life, but in the lives of those who accepted the “Easter gospel” (believed in the Resurrection of Christ), because “the Spirit of Him, Who resurrected from dead jesus lives in you” (Rom. 8:11). The unusual thing about what happened to Christ is that His death and Resurrection “work in us” (2 Cor. 4:12). “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too should walk in newness of life. For if we are united with Him in the likeness of His death (in baptism), we must also be united in the likeness of the resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him... so that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom. 6:4-6) .
The essence of the Christian faith, expressed in the words: “Christ is Risen!”, determines the meaning of a Christian’s life; he sees this meaning in eternal life in God, otherwise called salvation, understands that real (earthly) life is not a self-sufficient value, but a necessary condition, a transitory form of being of a person for his achievement of perfect life in God. In other words, the meaning of a Christian’s life is to become like Christ and unite with Him - leading a highly spiritual life, in which eternal life in the Kingdom of God will become possible.
And here I would like to cite the words of St. Leo the Great, which are still relevant for our time, spoken by him in the 5th century on Easter: “So, since through forty days of abstinence we wished to achieve at least to some extent, during the suffering of the Lord, to feel His cross, we We must strive to become participants in the Resurrection of Christ and, while still in this body, to pass from death to life. After all, for every person who changes and becomes from one to another, the end is not to be what he was, and the beginning is to be what he was not. But it is important for whom a person will die and for whom he will live, because there is death leading to life, and there is life leading to death. And not just somewhere, but in this transitory age one can find both; and the difference in eternal rewards depends on how we act in time. So, you need to die for the devil, and live for God; you need to get rid of injustice in order to rise up for the truth. Let the old fall so that the new may appear. And since, as the Truth says, “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24), let him not be master who caused those standing to fall, but He who raised up those who were cast down to glory.”
Events associated with the Resurrection of Christ
The very moment of the Resurrection of Christ, due to its greatness that cannot be described, is absent in the texts of the Gospels; there is only a description of events one way or another connected with the Resurrection of Christ.
A series of events closely related to icon of the Resurrection of Christ, begins with the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus, which took place in the days of the approaching Jewish Passover - last days earthly life of Christ. By this time, the anger of the high priests and scribes, directed at the teaching of Jesus Christ, was already boiling, and the great miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, on the one hand, significantly increased the number of people who believed in Christ, on the other hand, it strengthened and accelerated the decision of the high priests to seize the Savior and put him to death ( John 11, 12). The resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus Christ is remembered by the Orthodox Church on Saturday in the sixth week of Lent (the eve of Palm Sunday).
The day after the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus Christ made a ceremonial entry into Jerusalem, and asked to bring him a donkey as a symbol that he was coming in peace (entering the city on horseback meant hostile intentions at that time). According to ancient Jewish tradition, the Messiah - the King of Israel - should be revealed in Jerusalem on Passover. The people, knowing about the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus, solemnly greet Jesus as the coming King. Many people pave the way before their Savior outerwear and palm leaves (Matt. 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-19; Luke 19:29-48; John 12:12-19). This event is remembered by the Church on Sunday of the sixth week of Lent and is colloquially called Palm Sunday, willows replace palm leaves in Russian folklore. In the old days, kings were greeted with green branches when they returned in triumph after defeating their enemies. Now the willow branches blooming in the spring glorify the Savior as the Conqueror of death.
All subsequent days Jesus Christ taught in the temple, and spent his nights outside the walls of Jerusalem. Since the Savior was always surrounded by people listening to Him attentively, the high priests did not have the opportunity to commit murder; all that remained was to tempt him with questions (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12). The preaching of Jesus Christ in the Jerusalem Temple is remembered by the church on Maundy Tuesday (Tuesday of Holy Week, the last before the Resurrection).
On the fourth day after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus Christ said to his disciples: “You know that in two days there will be Passover, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2). On this day, the high priests, scribes and elders of the Jewish people decide to destroy the Savior by cunning and not at the time of the holiday, when many people gather, but earlier, in order to avoid general popular indignation. On the same day, one of the apostles, Judas Iscariot, unable to overcome his greed, came to the high priests, promising for thirty pieces of silver to find an opportunity to betray Jesus Christ “not in front of the people” (Matthew 26:1-5,14-16 ; Mark 14:1-2, 10-11; Luke 22: 1-6). The Church remembers this day on Wednesday of Holy Week.
On the evening of the fifth day after entering Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, knowing that he would be betrayed that night, came with the twelve apostles to the upper room prepared for the Easter meal. Here Jesus Christ said: “I greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, because, I tell you, I will no longer eat it until it is completed in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 22:15-16). Having washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus Christ taught them humility and showed them that they should not consider it a humiliation to serve anyone. At this evening, after eating the Old Testament Passover, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion, which is why it is called the “Last Supper.” During the Last Supper, the Savior told the apostles that one of them would betray Him. The teacher’s words saddened the apostles, each asked himself and others the question: “Is it not I?”, turning to Judas Iscariot, Jesus said: “What are you doing, do it quickly.” The apostles did not understand the true meaning of these words and thought that Jesus was sending him to buy something for the holiday or give alms to the poor. After Judas left, continuing to talk with his disciples, Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, so you also love one another; By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34, 35). Seeing that the news of His return to the Father saddened the apostles, he promises to send them another comforter: “When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me; and you also will testify, because you were with Me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27). This promise of Jesus will be fulfilled fifty days after his Resurrection. Jesus also predicted to the apostles that they would have to endure many things for their faith in Him. He ended his conversation with his disciples with a prayer for them and for all who will believe in Him. After the prayer, the Savior went, as usual, to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane, and his disciples followed him (Matthew 26:17-35; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-39; John 13-18 ). These events are remembered by the church in Maundy Thursday Holy Week.
| , icon painter Yuri Kuznetsov |
That night, members of the Sanhedrin gathered, despite the fact that the Supreme Court could only meet during the day and in the temple. At this gathering, in addition to the members of the Sanhedrin, there were elders and scribes, they all agreed in advance to condemn Jesus Christ to death, but for this they needed to find some guilt worthy of death. They interrogated Jesus about His teaching and His disciples, but could not find guilt until one of the high priests asked: “I adjure You by the living God, tell us, Are you the Christ, the Son of God?” To which Jesus answered him: “You said ; I even say to you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” “He is blaspheming! - was the verdict of the high priest. “What do you think?” Everyone answered: “Guilty of death” (Matthew 26:63-66).
It's Friday morning. The high priests with the elders and scribes and the entire Sanhedrin again convened a meeting. They brought Jesus Christ and again condemned Him to death for calling Himself Christ, the Son of God. When Judas learned that Jesus Christ was condemned to death, painful repentance took possession of his soul; perhaps he did not think that things would go so far. He went to the high priests and elders and returned to them the thirty pieces of silver, saying: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They answered him: “What is that to us; see for yourself” (that is, be responsible for your own affairs). And they led Jesus Christ to trial by the Roman governor in Judea, Pontius Pilate, since they themselves could not fulfill their sentence without his approval (Matthew 27:3-10).
Pontius Pilate was in Jerusalem on the occasion of Easter. When Jesus was brought to him, he said to the chief priests: “What do you accuse this man of? If he is a villain, take him and judge him yourself according to your laws.” “We are not allowed to put anyone to death,” they answered him. Pontius Pilate, having talked with Jesus Christ, realized that before him stood a preacher of truth, a teacher of the people, and not a rebel against the power of the Romans. Going out to the high priests, he announced to them that he did not find any guilt in this man. The chief priests and elders insisted, saying that he was disturbing the people by teaching throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee. Having learned that Jesus is from Galilee, Pontius Pilate sends him to trial before the Galilean king Herod, who, on the occasion of Easter, was also in Jerusalem. Pilate was glad to get rid of this unpleasant trial, because he understood that Jesus was betrayed because of envy (Matthew 27:2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 15:1-7; John 18 :28-38).
Herod sent Jesus Christ back to Pontius Pilate, and in light - justifying - clothes (Luke 23: 8-12). Pilate, having called the high priests, rulers and people, said to them: “You brought this man to me as one who corrupts the people, and so I examined you and did not find this man guilty of anything of which you accuse Him, and neither did Herod, for I sent Him to him, and nothing was found in Him worthy of death. So, having punished Him, I will release Him” (Luke 23: 14-17). It was the custom of the Jews to release one prisoner, chosen by the people, for the Passover holiday. Pontius Pilate was confident that the people would choose Jesus over Barabbas, the robber and murderer. But, apparently, the high priests and Pharisees, playing the role of teachers of the Jewish people and therefore having authority, taught the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas. And the crowd chanted: “Crucify him! And release Barabbas to us!” Three more times Pontius Pilate tried to persuade people to let Jesus go, and to find out from the crowd what evil he had done that they wanted him dead so much. But the crowd was inexorable and, without giving an explanation, continued to shout: “Crucify him!” Pilate, seeing that nothing was helping, and the confusion was increasing, took water to wash his hands before the people, and said: “I am not guilty of shedding the blood of this Righteous One; look you” (that is, let this guilt fall on you). Answering him, all the Jewish people said in one voice: “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then Pilate released the thief Barabbas to them, and handed Jesus Christ over to them to be crucified (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-40; 19:1 -16).
Those condemned to crucifixion were required to carry their cross to the place of execution. The hill to which Jesus Christ was led was called Golgotha; the road there was uneven and mountainous. Exhausted from beatings and mental suffering, Jesus Christ could barely walk, falling several times and getting up again. When the procession reached the city gates, where the road began to climb up the mountain, he was already completely exhausted. Then the soldiers ordered Simon to carry the cross, who looked at Christ with compassion (Matthew 27:27-32; Mark 15:16-21; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:16-17).
The execution of crucifixion was the most cruel and lowest, since according to Jewish law, someone hanged on a tree was considered damned. The high priests who sentenced Jesus Christ to such death wanted to debunk His glory forever, but when He was crucified, He prayed for them: “Father! Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” On the cross of each crucified person a sign was nailed indicating his guilt; on the cross of Jesus it was written: “King of the Jews.” The high priests insisted that Pontius Pilate add “He said that he was the King of the Jews,” but the Roman governor did not do this. The last hours of the life of Jesus Christ were filled with insults and ridicule: the high priests, scribes, elders and soldiers who guarded the executed said: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If He is the Christ, the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross so that we can see, and then we will believe in Him. Trusted in God; let God deliver Him now, if He pleases Him; for He said: “I am the Son of God.” During the Savior's suffering on Calvary, a great sign occurred. As soon as Jesus Christ was crucified, a rare phenomenon began - solar eclipse. The famous philosopher from Athens, Dionysius the Areopagite, was at that time in Egypt, in the city of Heliopolis, observing the sudden darkness, and said: “Either the Creator suffers, or the world is destroyed.” Subsequently, Dionysius the Areopagite converted to Christianity and was the first bishop of Athens.
Before Jesus died in a loud voice said: “Father! “Into Your hands I commend My spirit,” bowed his head and died. Then everyone present felt a shock from under the ground - an earthquake began. The centurion and the soldiers who guarded the crucified Savior were afraid and said: “Truly, this man was the Son of God.” And the people, watching the execution and seeing everything, became frightened and began to disperse (Matt. 27:33-56; Mark 15:22-41; Luke 23: 33-49; John 19:18-37).
The famous member of the Sanhedrin and secret disciple of Jesus Christ, Joseph of Arimathea, a good and righteous man, asked Pilate for permission to remove the body of Christ from the cross and bury it. Joseph and Nicodemus (another disciple of Christ from the Sanhedrin) wrapped the Savior’s body in a shroud and laid Him in a cave that Joseph carved into the rock for his burial, covering the entrance with a huge stone. The next day, Saturday, the high priests and Pharisees (disturbing the peace of the Sabbath and Easter) came to Pilate and began to ask him: “Sir! We remembered that this deceiver, while still alive, said: “After three days I will rise again.” Therefore, order that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that His disciples, coming at night, do not steal Him and tell the people that He has risen from the dead; and then the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate answered them: “You have a guard; go and protect it as best you can.” Then the high priests and the Pharisees went to the tomb of Jesus Christ and, having carefully examined the cave, they applied their (Sanhedrin’s) seal to the stone and set up a military guard (Matt. 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50- 56; John 19:38-42). Good Friday Holy Week is dedicated to the remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the removal of His body from the cross and burial.
When the body of the Savior lay in the tomb, He descended with His soul into hell, and all the souls of righteous people who were waiting for His coming were freed (Eph. 4:8-9; Acts 2:31; 1 Pet. 3:19-20) . In the canonical books of the New Testament there are only isolated references by the apostles to the descent of Christ into hell; this event is most fully described in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. This apocrypha had a huge influence on the formation of church teaching on this issue, as well as on its iconography. According to the teachings of the Church, the human soul of Jesus in the depths of hell also preached to the souls of dead sinners (before the descent of Christ in hell, John the Baptist had already preached the gospel). The stay of Jesus Christ in the tomb and His descent into hell for the deliverance of the souls of the dead is remembered by the church on Holy Week on Holy Saturday.
After the Sabbath, at night, on the third day after suffering and death, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. His human body was transformed. He came out of the tomb without rolling away the stone, without breaking the Sanhedrin seal and invisible to the guards. From that moment on, the soldiers, without knowing it, guarded the empty coffin.
In the morning, an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. The soldiers standing guard at the coffin were in awe and dumbfounded, and when they woke up from fear, they fled. At the same time, Mary Magdalene, Mary of James, Joanna, Salome and other myrrh-bearing women, taking the prepared fragrant myrrh, went to the tomb of Jesus Christ to anoint His body, according to tradition. Approaching the cave, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. The angel, turning to them, said: “Do not be afraid: for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He's not here; He rose again, as He said, while He was still with you. Come and see the place where the Lord lay. And then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead.”
Peter and John were the first of the disciples to run to the tomb. John, not daring to enter, remained at the entrance, but Peter immediately went inside. John, seeing the neatly folded swaddling clothes and knowing the prohibition of Jews touching a dead body, was the first of the apostles to believe in the Resurrection of Christ, while Peter was amazed within himself at everything that had happened. When John and Peter left, Mary Magdalene, who remained at the tomb, had the first appearance of Christ after the Resurrection. Mary, seeing that Jesus Christ was standing in front of her, joyfully rushed to Him, but the Savior did not allow her to touch himself, saying: “Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; But go to My brothers and say to them: I ascend to My Father and to your Father and to My God and your God.”
Then Mary Magdalene hurried to the disciples with the news that she had seen the Lord. On the way, Mary Magdalene caught up with Mary of Jacob, who was also returning from the Holy Sepulcher. Jesus Christ met them on the road and said to them: “Rejoice!” They came up, grabbed His feet and worshiped Him. Jesus Christ said to them: “Do not be afraid, go and tell My brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Mary Magdalene and Mary of James told the eleven disciples and everyone who was nearby about the great joy that Jesus Christ was alive, and they saw Him, but the disciples did not believe them. After this, Jesus Christ appeared separately to Peter and assured him of His Resurrection. After the third appearance, many ceased to doubt the reality of the Resurrection of Christ, although there were still those among the disciples who did not believe in the possibility of what happened.
The warriors guarding the entrance to the cave reported everything that had happened to the high priests. Fearing that the glory of Jesus would strengthen even more, the high priests decided to hide what had happened from the people and bribed the soldiers, telling them to tell them that the body of Jesus Christ was carried away by his disciples at night while the guards were sleeping. The soldiers did so, as they were taught (Matt. 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18).
Towards the evening of the day when Jesus Christ resurrected and appeared to Mary Magdalene, Mary of James and Peter, two of Christ’s disciples (from among the 70), Cleopas and Luke, were walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. On the way, they talked about all the events that had happened in Jerusalem, suddenly a traveler joined them and, hearing their doubts that Jesus was the deliverer of Israel, said to them: “O foolish ones (who cannot see the essence) and slow (not sensitive) in heart to believe everything that the prophets foretold! Isn’t this how Christ had to suffer and enter into His glory?”, then continuing to explain everything that was said by the prophets, starting with Moses. During dinner, the traveler took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples, at that moment their eyes opened and they recognized Jesus Christ, but He became invisible to them. Cleopas and Luke immediately gathered and went back to Jerusalem to tell about the miracle that happened to them (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:18-35).
During the conversation of the apostles with the disciples who had returned from Emmaus, despite the doors being locked due to fear of the Jews, Jesus Christ appeared among the apostles. The apostles were confused and frightened by this event, thinking that a spirit was standing before them. But Jesus Christ said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why do such thoughts enter your hearts? Look at My hands and at My feet, it is I Myself; touch (touch) Me and look at me; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Further, in confirmation of his words, Jesus Christ ate and drank in front of the disciples, talking with them: “Behold, now that which I spoke to you about while I was still with you must be fulfilled, that everything that was written about me in the law of Moses must be fulfilled. both in the prophets and in the psalms." “Peace be with you! As the Father sent Me into the world, so I send you,” having said this, the Savior breathed on them and continued: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; on whomever you leave it, it will remain on him.” Thomas was not among the apostles that evening; the apostles told him about the appearance of Jesus Christ to them, but Thomas, after listening to them, said that he would not believe until he himself saw the risen Savior (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-45 ; John 20:19-25).
A week later, on the eighth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the disciples all gathered together again, this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, just like the first time. Jesus Christ entered the house with the doors closed, stood among the disciples and said: “Peace be with you!” Then, turning to Thomas, he said to him: “... and do not be an unbeliever, but a believer.” Then the Apostle Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus Christ replied: “You believed because you saw Me, but blessed are those who did not see and believed” (John 20: 26-29). The Church remembers two appearances of Jesus Christ to the apostles on the Sunday following Easter - the holiday of Antipascha or St. Thomas Week (Fomino Sunday).
According to the command of Jesus Christ, which he conveyed through Mary Magdalene and Mary of James at his second appearance, the disciples went to Galilee. There, near the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples, forgave and restored the denied Peter to the apostleship (John 21). During the next appearance to the apostles and more than five hundred of his disciples, Jesus Christ said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore, teach all nations (My teaching), baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; teach them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And behold, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen". Forty days after his Resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to his disciples and talked with them about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16).
All four Gospels testify to all the events described above, which are the most important part Christian Holy Scripture (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21).
The story uses materials from the widely known
textbook “The Law of God” by Archpriest Seraphim Slobodsky.
Briefly about the iconography of the Resurrection of Christ
In ancient Christian art on icons Resurrection of Christ was depicted in a symbolic-allegorical form; Old Testament prototypes were often used, for example, the image of Jonah in the belly of a whale. (Matthew 12:40) Due to the lack of a gospel story about the Resurrection of Christ, artists long time They avoided depicting this plot on icons. It was replaced by episodes and plots of the appearances of the risen Christ: to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples on the way to Emmaus, in Emmaus itself, and others.
Early Byzantine art combined an illustration of the Gospel narrative and an image of the Savior’s tomb in the form of a temple (or cross) built by Emperor Constantine the Great on the site of the Resurrection of Christ - the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Later Resurrection of Christ, which in its essence is the salvation of man from death and the key to eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven, began to be depicted as the “Descent of Jesus into hell” to save the souls of the dead. This event is almost not described in the Gospels, so the main literary source for this composition was apocryphal sources, primarily the Gospel of Nicodemus, the oldest part of this text supposedly dates back to the 4th century.
The composition “The Descent of Jesus into Hell” appeared around the 12th century, at which time the first attempts to write icon of the Resurrection of Christ in the form of His exit from the tomb. Since the 17th century, two centers have appeared on Russian icons: the Resurrection of Christ itself, where Jesus is depicted in a halo above the tomb, and the “Descent into Hell” with many minute details from apocryphal sources.
Since the first witnesses of the Resurrection of Christ were the myrrh-bearing women, the composition “Myrrh-bearing women at the Holy Sepulcher” becomes an independent plot, widespread in Rus'. The victory over death and the joy of what had happened, which the angel preached to the myrrh-bearing women, attracted Christian artists and encouraged them to depict this event again and again.
All of the above plots are united by the fact that in them the figure of Christ was always depicted, unlike all other plots, surrounded by light, radiating rays in all directions. Over time icons of the Resurrection of Christ, as in the icon of Yu.E. Kuznetsov, all plot elements, as a rule, were omitted, and only the figure of the Savior remained in the center in a bright radiance.
What a miracle happened
It is strange to talk about God, asking about the miracles of the Lord: “What miracle happened?”, for we always talk about His miracles in our stories about Christian saints in history Orthodox Church. All the miracles performed by Him are recorded in the Four Gospels, all miracles according to His will were performed by the apostles and holy fathers who were miracle workers.
But the greatest miracle is the resurrection of the human soul, when a person finds the Lord in his heart. The miracle of deification occurs, and the children of men become the children of God. This is the great happiness that He granted to the human race in the future, which was announced by the Old Testament prophets. We celebrate the miracle of the Resurrection of the Lord every year, when the sacred Easter fire is lit - a sign and symbol of the Lord's selfless and all-forgiving love.
The flock rejoices. In Jerusalem
The sacred fire runs through the candles,
This means that You, Lord, have not abandoned us -
We have someone to pray to and serve.
But of all Your miracles in the world
I am amazed at one thing first -
To Your immeasurable patience
To such big and naughty children...
Olga Troitskaya
Easter, 2011
Jerusalem Church of the Resurrection of Christ
From time immemorial, this place attracts pilgrims from all over the world; every year the rite of descent is performed in the temple Holy Fire, used in the Easter ceremony of bringing the Holy Light from the Holy Sepulcher. This ceremony is held on Holy Saturday and in symbolic actions shows the events of the Passion of the Lord - the death, entombment and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The bringing out of the Holy Light (Fire) symbolizes the risen Lord. The ceremony in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ has long been held with the participation of various Christian churches.
The Jerusalem Church of the Resurrection of Christ, better known as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, was built by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. In 326, his mother, Empress Helena, arrived in Jerusalem for the purpose of pilgrimage and search for Christian relics; it was she who initiated the construction of the temple over the cave in which Jesus Christ was buried. The temple was solemnly consecrated in the presence of representatives of the clergy from different countries on September 13, 335.
The Church of the Resurrection of Christ is a huge architectural complex, including: Golgotha with the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; Edicule - a chapel in the center of the temple, directly hiding a cave with a coffin; The Stone of Anointing on which the body of Jesus was placed before burial and was anointed with incense; Catholicon ( main temple complex); underground temple of the Finding Life-giving Cross; Church of St. Helen of the Apostles and several chapels.
Currently, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ is divided between six denominations christian church: Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syriac and Ethiopian, each of which has its own chapels and hours for prayer. So, for example, the Holy Sepulcher, which is the main altar of the temple, is jointly owned by the Orthodox and Armenians Apostolic Church and Catholics, and only they have the right to alternately serve the liturgy here. Often this division causes conflicts between representatives of different faiths. To avoid misunderstandings, the keys to the temple have been kept by the Arab-Muslim Joudeh family since 1109, with the right to unlock and lock the door belonging to another Muslim family, the Nusseibeh. These rights have been passed down from father to son in both families for centuries.
In ancient times, worship in the Jerusalem Church was the Easter vigil (vespers and liturgy Holy Saturday) began with the ritual of lighting the evening light. The ritual of blessing the evening candle is described in the Lectionary (a collection of biblical liturgical readings) of the 5th – 7th centuries. However, in the “Second Discourse on the Resurrection” by Gregory of Nyssa, a famous church writer, theologian and philosopher who lived in the 4th century, there is already a mention of the miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire on the eve of the Resurrection of Christ, which is annually expected by all Christians in our time. In the textbook “The Law of God” by Archpriest Seraphim Slobodsky, which has been used by Orthodox Christians for more than half a century educational institutions, the Holy Fire is also spoken of as a miracle, citing stories from pilgrims.
From the point of view of Orthodoxy, the Holy Fire is a guarantee between God and people, the fulfillment of the vow given by the risen Christ to his followers: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” It is believed that the year when the Heavenly Fire does not descend on the Holy Sepulcher will mean the end of the world and the onset of the power of “darkness.”
The church ceremony of bringing out the Holy Fire begins approximately one day before Orthodox Easter. Pilgrims begin to gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, wanting to see with their own eyes the miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire; among them, in addition to Christians, there are representatives of many religions and atheists. Jewish police monitor public order during the ceremony. The temple itself can accommodate up to ten thousand people, the entire area in front of it and the enfilade of surrounding buildings are also filled with people.
All the people in the temple are waiting with trepidation for the patriarch to emerge from the Edicule with Fire in his hands. The prayer and ritual continue until the expected miracle occurs. IN different years The tedious wait lasts from five minutes to several hours. In the future, lamps will be lit from the Holy Fire throughout Jerusalem, then it will be delivered by air to different countries peace, in recent years and to the states of the former Soviet Union.
Meaning of the icon
Icon of the Resurrection of Christ- evidence of the most important event that occurred in the past and future history of mankind. By him, the Resurrection of Christ, death was abolished. First of all, spiritual. For all those who repent, for all who are ready to take the path of Christianity. In the Gospel we see the first example of this, how the thief crucified with Jesus Christ asks the Savior to remember him when He is in His Kingdom. And Christ promises Him this (Luke 23:42-43). And so it happened.
This was the first example of repentance, true and deep, and the great resurrection of a soul transformed by faith in Him.
Let's clear our senses and see the unapproachable
shining with the light of Christ’s resurrection...
(Canon of the Resurrection, canticle 1)
Marvelous Easter canon- “a solemn song of joy about the Conqueror of death and hell” - along with deep theological reasoning, contains such vivid and imaginative descriptions of the very event of the Resurrection of Christ that this creation of St. John of Damascus sometimes seems like a kind of iconographic program, which the creator of the canons carefully offers not only to the icon painters themselves , but also for those who seek to understand the meaning of the depicted event.
Let us follow the call given as an epigraph to our note: let us try to see what was conveyed to us and about which the holy evangelists reverently kept silent.
“Now everything is filled with light, the heavens and the earth and the underworld” (canto 3)… Before moving on to consider the rarely encountered subjects of the Resurrection of Christ in modern church use, let us dwell on the well-known “Descent into Hell.”
The plot of “The Resurrection of Christ - the Descent into Hell” can without a doubt be called one of the most common iconographic plots. For the Orthodox consciousness, the light of the Resurrection of Christ, which shone even to the underworld, is the same visible reality as the light of Tabor in the iconography of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
The earliest images of the Descent into Hell date back to the 10th century - these are miniatures of handwritten Gospels (in the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos, etc.) and Psalms (for example, the Khludovskaya 9th century, located in the collection of the State Historical Museum). There is an established opinion that the literary basis of the iconography of the Descent into Hell is apocrypha - the so-called. "The Gospel of Nicodemus." This work, attributed to Christ's secret disciple Nicodemus (John 3:1–9, 7:50, 19:39), dates back to the 2nd century, and the second half of the apocrypha may have appeared in apostolic times. Here exactly is the story on behalf of the two sons of the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver, resurrected after the Resurrection of Christ, about the Descent of Christ into hell: “And a voice was heard like the voices of thunder: Take your gates, O princes, and rise up, O faiths of hell, and the King of glory will enter.
And the prince of the underworld, seeing that this voice was repeated twice, said, as if not understanding: Who is this King of Glory? David, answering the prince of the underworld, said: I know the words of this exclamation, for they are the same ones that I prophesied under the inspiration of His Spirit... And now, vile and terrible prince of the underworld, open your gates, so that the King of Glory may enter into them. When David spoke these words to the prince of the underworld, the Lord of Majesty descended in the form of a man and illuminated the eternal darkness, and destroyed the inextricable bonds, and the help of an invincible power visited us, sitting in the depths of the darkness of sin and in the shadow of the death of sinners.”
In the sixteenth century, Saint Macarius completely revised the Russian translation of the Book of Nicodemus and included it in his Great Chetya Menaion. So the text of this work spread to Rus'; he is famous in many lists. The text expanded by Saint Macarius contains not only a vivid description of the event of the Resurrection of Christ; Christ is shown here as the Righteous Judge, to whom the souls of the righteous, saved by Him from the underworld, offer their prayers.
But it would be fair to note that the Book of Nicodemus is not the only source of the iconography we are considering. For example, the prophetic texts of the Psalter speak about the Descent into hell: You brought my soul out of hell and revived me (Ps. 29:4); If I ascend to heaven - You are there; If I go down to the underworld, you will be there too (Ps. 139:8). From the prophet Isaiah we read: Hell, hell, began to move for your sake, to meet you at your entrance (Is. 14:9). The Apostle Peter, addressing the men of Israel and all those living in Jerusalem (Acts 2:31-32), as well as in his epistles, says that, having become alive in the spirit, Christ came down and preached to the souls in prison (1 Pet. 3 :18–19). Interpreting the 19th verse of the 67th Psalm, the Apostle Paul says: “he ascended,” what does it mean if not that He had previously descended into the depths of the earth? He is also the one who ascended above the heavens to fill all things (Eph. 4:9-10); The victory of the Risen Christ over death and hell is also spoken of in 1 Corinthians: ... death is swallowed up in victory. Death! where is your sting? hell! where is your victory?.. Thanks be to God, who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Cor. 15:54, 55, 57).
Sacred Tradition contains many references to the destruction of hell by the Savior descending into it; St. John Chrysostom in the “Catechetical Word”, following the prophet and apostle, exclaims: “Hell is grieved... for it is abolished. Be upset, for you will soon be insulted. Be grieved, for you have died. Be grieved, for you have fallen... Where is your sting, O death? Where the hell is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are cast down. Christ is risen, and the demons have fallen..." For John of Damascus, who created his creations in the 8th century, the Savior's descent into hell is already an immutable fact: "We celebrate the mortification of death, the destruction of hell..." (canto 7).
Let us pay attention to the words of the ikos: “Even before the sun, the Sun, sometimes setting into the grave...” In the traditional iconography of the Descent into Hell, the Savior is depicted descending into the underworld, surrounded by radiance, penetrated by rays, heavenly circles (mandorla) - signifying His divine dignity and glory. The Savior in this icon is like the sun descended into the underworld. Everything about the Savior is full of rapid movement. The hem of the garment flutters and is raised by the wind, signifying the lightning speed of the Savior’s descent into hell.
The description we have given of the icon of the Descent into Hell belongs to the monk Gregory (Krug), an outstanding icon painter of the Russian Abroad. However, together with another remarkable scientist and icon painter, L. N. Uspensky, the monk Gregory believed that of all the scenes of the Resurrection of Christ known since early Christian times, “the only appropriate one is the image of the myrrh-bearing women at the Tomb.” Here are his thoughts:
“Repeatedly, disagreements arose in the Church over how this or that holiday, this or that saint, this or that divine-human concept should be depicted on an icon. Various icon images of the Resurrection of Christ, accepted in church use, also cause disagreement. The question has arisen and continues to arise about which icons of the Resurrection of Christ correctly express the meaning of the sacred event, and which icons are less perfect and desirable, and which, finally, are completely unacceptable for worship and veneration as false, completely distorting the meaning of the holiday event and leading away consciousness believers on the dark paths of false images, feelings and ideas, preventing the comprehension of the event, being an insurmountable barrier to it, and not a door leading into the bright chamber of church triumph.”
Supporting the opinion of Leonid Uspensky, the monk Gregory writes: “The Resurrection of Christ is a completely unknown and incomprehensible sacrament and cannot be depicted, for in this way the very mysterious nature of the event would be diminished.”
But they tried to depict everything described in the Gospel with sufficient (or rather, accessible for their time) completeness, at least starting from the 3rd century. From the early symbolic images of the Resurrection of Christ - through those contained in Old Testament prototypes - to documentary illustrativeness, historically accurately reflecting the Gospel texts. Next is the theological understanding of Christ’s victory over hell and death, which made it possible to create wonderful compositions of the Descent into Hell - multi-figured, very expressive (an example is the late 14th century icon from the Resurrection Cathedral of the Kolomna Kremlin, now located in the Tretyakov Gallery). Quite a few icons depicting the Descent into Hell have survived, and this undoubtedly indicates that the theological understanding of the “mystery of the unknown and incomprehensible” was constantly in demand - in demand precisely in the iconographic aspect. In the 17th century The complicated iconography of the Descent into Hell became widespread: under the influence of Western painting, the plot of “The Rising of Christ from the Tomb” was introduced into the composition, and this latter plot increasingly replaced the Descent into Hell, which is familiar to Russian churches. “Rising from the grave” the Savior is usually shown naked, wearing a girdle; He hovers over the coffin, holding in his hand a flagpole with a cross on it. There are no serious theological grounds for such a composition.
Historical compositions that clearly illustrate the Gospel texts about the appearances of the Risen Savior have not remained only the property of history - they are found both in temple paintings and on icons, although much less frequently than the Descent into Hell or the “Rise from the Grave.” Let's try to trace how the iconography of these, which have become quite rare, subjects developed, starting from the moment of their appearance.
One of the earliest images is a Roman ivory relief plate dating from around 400 (housed in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich).
The Resurrection of Christ and the Ascension are presented here in a single composition. On the left side, below, the Holy Sepulcher is depicted in the form of an ancient mausoleum. It is a cubic brick base with an elegant carved cornice; next to the double-leaf locked door there is a small niche with a relief image of the full-length figure of the buried person. The top of the coffin is a rotunda with a carved cornice and decorative two-column arches, above which in medallions there are relief shoulder-shaped images of the ancestors of the buried. The rotunda is crowned by a dome with a carved decoration in the form of a rosette. A tree (olive) rises above the coffin.
Next to the coffin are sleeping warriors: one leans a spear against the coffin and stands with his eyes closed, leaning his elbows on the base of the coffin; the other has his head resting on his folded arms and is sleeping, leaning comfortably on the coffin. Three myrrh-bearing women approach the tomb; their figures express timidity and surprise: they saw an angel sitting at the entrance to the coffin. An angel (in those days angels were still depicted without wings) with a pointing gesture announces to the myrrh-bearing women about the Resurrection of Christ.
The upper right part of the relief depicts the Ascension scene. The Savior (He is depicted as a beardless youth) climbs the mountainside; The right hand of God the Father is extended towards Him from a cloud segment. A little lower, also on the mountainside, are two apostles. One of them reverently covered his face with his hands and knelt down; the other, clasping his hands in amazement, falls to his knees.
Some scenes from this composition received further development and are found in later images, but there are no direct analogues of this composition.
In later images of the myrrh-bearing wives at the tomb, the Angel points them to the one lying in open coffin shroud The image of an Angel preaching the good news to the myrrh-bearing women standing at the empty tomb about the Resurrection of Christ remained for several centuries the only image of the Resurrection in Byzantine iconography.
In the famous fresco in the Serbian monastery of Mileševa (c. 1236), an angel in shining white robes sits at the open entrance to the tomb cave and points to the shroud lying there. The image of the Angel corresponds to the description given by the Evangelist Matthew: The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb, and sat on it; his appearance was like lightning, and his raiment was white as snow (Matthew 28:2, 3).
“This icon depicts wives bringing myrrh to the tomb of the Savior and being certified by an Angel about the Resurrection of Christ. In front of the wives is depicted the empty tomb of the Savior with the shrouds left behind and the holy sir lying separately. An angel in snow-white robes, seated on the rolled away stone of the tomb, announces the good news to the wives. Sometimes not one, but two Angels are depicted. Based on the Gospel stories, the Angel or Angels are the first witnesses and eyewitnesses of the Resurrection of Christ, one must think, the first interlocutors of the Savior after His Resurrection.”
The described composition is fully consistent with the text of the book of Holy Pascha: “Having preceded the morning of Mary and having found the stone rolled away from the tomb, I heard from the Angel: in the ever-present light of the One who is with the dead, what are you looking for, like a man? You see the graveclothes: tetzet and preach to the world, for the Lord has arisen, the one who put death to death...” This text also fully explains the fact that in Orthodox tradition The moment of the Resurrection of Christ was considered incomprehensible.
The moment of the Resurrection was considered inconceivable, but not the meetings with the Risen Christ, described in detail by the evangelists. The first of them, described by John the Theologian (John 19:11–17), is known in iconography (of Western origin) under the name “Noli Me tangere” - “Do not touch Me!” (John 19:17).
It is interesting to compare liturgical texts with the features of the iconography of this and subsequent meetings of the disciples with the Risen Savior. The plate described above from the Munich Museum echoes the Sunday troparion of the 1st tone: “The stone is sealed from the Jews...” Mary Magdalene standing at the tomb is mentioned in the troparion of the 6th tone (“...and Mary stood in the tomb, seeking Your Most Pure Body”). The Descent into Hell is spoken of in the troparion of the 2nd tone: “When you descended to death, the Immortal Belly, then you killed hell with the brilliance of the Divine...”; 6 voices: “Thou hast captivated hell...”
The rites of the Weeks after Easter contain memories and comprehension of the disciples’ encounters with the Risen Christ; These appearances of the Risen One are also reflected in iconography. The most famous composition is “The Confidence of Thomas”. The composition has become widespread since the beginning of the 11th century; the earliest monument is the mosaics of the cathedral of the monastery of Hosios Loukas in Phokis. By the middle of the 11th century. refers to the image of the Assurance of Thomas on the fresco of Sophia of Kyiv. The “Blessed Twin,” testing with his “curious right hand” the pierced ribs of his Risen Teacher, became one of the most frequently encountered characters in compositions dedicated to the Risen Savior.
Somewhat less common are compositions with Mary Magdalene (“Touch Me Not!”) and with the Myrrh-Bearing Women. Some of the earliest images include beautiful mosaics
VI century the Cathedral of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna and the frescoes of St. Sophia of Kyiv.
Let us note an interesting detail in the composition with Mary Magdalene, which confirms the Western origin of this plot. Mary Magdalene was depicted kneeling, with her hair flowing. This is exactly how Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary is depicted on a Cretan icon of the 16th century. and on a fresco of the same time in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas of the Athos monastery of Stavronikita.
Another rare story related to the appearance of the Risen Christ to His disciples is a meeting in Galilee; it is also called “Sending out the disciples to preach.” The earliest image is in our Sophia of Kyiv.
A very interesting cycle of frescoes from the 16th century. depicting the appearances of the Risen Christ in the already mentioned Stavronikita monastery: it practically illustrates the Sunday Gospel readings. These frescoes immediately follow the depiction of the Passion of Christ. After the plot of the Lamentation of Christ and the Entombment, the composition “Myrrh-Bearing Wives at the Tomb” follows. In contrast to the ancient relief image, the details of the gospel story are presented here very accurately: the tomb of Christ, carved into a rocky mountain, is covered with heavy stone; the stone is “sealed from the Jews” - tied twice with a strong rope, on top of which a seal is applied.
In another part of the composition, the Angel, “sitting on the tomb stone,” shows the myrrh-bearing women the shrouds lying in the tomb and the headcloth that was on His head, not lying with the shrouds, but especially rolled up in another place (John 20:7).
This is followed by the plots “The Confidence of Thomas”, “The Appearance of the Risen Christ to the Apostles in Galilee”, “The Appearance at Emmaus”. All compositions are filled with a mass of subtle details, not only illustrating, but sometimes commenting on the gospel story. Thus, in the plot of “Appearance at Emmaus,” silent witnesses of Christ’s conversation in Luke and Cleopas appear - these are servants serving food to the participants in the wonderful dinner at Emmaus. There are three of them: a maid leaning out of the window and serving bowls of food to the servants, and two servants bringing dishes to the table. They are wearing characteristic headdresses - one is wearing a Syrian headscarf, the other is wearing a tall fur hat.
The cycle of frescoes illustrating the Gospel readings of the Easter Weeks also includes scenes of the healing of a paralytic (week 4), a conversation with a Samaritan woman (week 5), and the healing of a blind man (week 6). Another image amazing in its laconic expressiveness is the third appearance of the Risen Christ to His disciples (The Miraculous Fishing John 21:1–14). This composition has been known since the 13th century; it was first found in the painting of the Hagia Sophia in Trebizond. The Athos fresco, as always, contains a lot of interesting details: this is a net abandoned on the right side of the boat - the apostle fishermen are unsuccessfully trying to pull it out. This is the Apostle Peter, “girt with ependytus,” swimming to the shore, and this is the fish laid out on the fire. The frescoes of Stavronikita were painted in the 16th century. Cretan artist Theophanes.
Further development of the iconography of the Risen Christ followed the path of complicating the composition and introducing additional details into it. Such, for example, is the Yaroslavl icon “The Rising of Christ from the Tomb and the Descent into Hell” from the end of the 17th century. from the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Along with the familiar subjects of the Resurrection of Christ and the appearances of the Risen Christ, the Yaroslavl icon presents huge amount characters and new stories.
Here are some of these new composition details. In the lower left corner of the icon there is a dungeon depicted, against the background of which angels are beating the personified hell or Satan. In the upper right corner, an angel leads a long line of saved righteous people to heaven. The first to enter paradise, where Enoch and Elijah are already located, is the prudent thief; he holds a cross in his hand.
The upper part of the icon - Western iconography - is the “Rising of Christ” with prostrate guards and the Savior hovering above them. Bottom half - Descent into Hell traditional Orthodox iconography. In addition to scenes related to the Risen Christ, the icon also presents scenes from the passion cycle: the Crucifixion, the Entombment. Above the “Rising of Christ” is a miniature Ascension of the Lord. Apparently, iconographic innovations can be explained by the desire to illustrate in detail the liturgical texts of Easter; V short form their content is presented in the Easter kontakion: “Although you descended into the grave, Immortal, you destroyed the power of hell, and you rose again as a conqueror, Christ God. The prophetic message to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice, and grant peace to your apostles, grant resurrection to the fallen.”
The long historical path of formation of the iconography of the Resurrection of Christ provides examples of unexpected artistic solutions associated with theological understanding of not only texts Holy Scripture, but also his patristic interpretations, liturgical texts, as well as borrowings from Western iconographic tradition- not always justified, but sometimes very interesting.
Archpriest Nikolai Pogrebnyak
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