Icon of See the Place Where the Lord Lay – F10

Description

One of the famous 16th century Stavronikita Festal set of icons, this icon depicts the Angel in White Robes showing the Virgin Mary and Saint Mary Magdalene, after the Lord’s Glorious Resurrection, His empty grave clothes where He had been previously laid in His Tomb.  The Resurrection of Christ was not just a mystical event only seen by Faith, but manifest with physical signs, physical appearances, to many, many witnesses.   Even today we see around us signs of His manifest miracles and kind interventions in our lives, but often we forget to give Him back thanks and glory.   

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 tenth 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.