Icon of the Resurrection (Theophanes) – F09

Description

One of the famous 16th century Stavronikita Festal set of icons, this icon depicts the Holy Resurrection of Our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ from the dead.  Jesus laid down His life voluntarily and took it back up freely, for He was both God and Man.  When He rose from the dead, all of Creation rejoiced and was illumined by the brightness of Life and Grace, for this is the Light that illumines all in Heaven forever.  Adam is being taken out of Hades where he had been bound since his death, but the bars of Hell have now been permanently broken, opening Paradise to us.

The monk Theophanes the Cretan painted this set of icons on the iconostasis, or icon screen which separates the Bema, or sacred Altar, from the body of the Church, or Nave, where the Faithful stand for Divine Liturgy and other liturgical services.  The set shows many of the most important events in the life of Jesus and the Church in its early and formative stage.  This icon is the ninth in that set.  Theophanes’ icons are considered masterpieces of iconographic art, still adorn the church at Stavronikita Monastery on Mount Athos, and show marvelous Cretan post-Byzantine form.