Icons are painted to lead us into the inner room of prayer and bring us close to the heart of God. - Henri Nouwen, Behold, the Beauty of the Lord
Our Lady of Ferguson
Our Lady, Mother of Ferguson and All Those Killed by Gun Violence by Mark Doox. Known simply as Our Lady of Ferguson, is an icon of the Madonna and Child. The icon, which depicts the Virgin Mary as a Black Madonna, was created in 2015 by Mark Doox (formerly Mark Dukes), an iconographer, and was commissioned by the Rev. Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones, an Episcopal priest at Trinity Church in Manhattan. The icon, created after the Shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has been referenced as a symbol against gun violence, particularly towards members of the African-American community in the United States. More about Mark Doox's icon.
The Korean Christ
In this icon by Br. Robert Lentz, OFM, Christ stands naked, at the moment of his resurrection, revealing his wounds as "the Lamb of God," which is the meaning of the inscription at the bottom. His long hair tied with a white band show him as an unmarried man from 2000 years ago. On either side of his head are Korean characters for "Jesus" and "Christ."Instead of the typical mandala of Greek and Russian icons, he is depicted in a luminous Taegeuk symbol. He does not sit on top of this important ancient Korean symbol, but emerges from it, for he is Taegeuk itself, the root of all things, the principle of harmony between Yin and Yang. The Taegeuk symbol sits on a field of jade green, and three jade stones are embedded in Christ's halo. The jade suggests royalty, as red garments would in a Greek icon. Purchase this icon.
The Trinity
The Trinity by Andrei Rublev depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre (Genesis 18:1–8), but the painting is full of symbolism and is interpreted as an icon of the Holy Trinity. At the time of Rublev, the Holy Trinity was the embodiment of spiritual unity, peace, harmony, mutual love and humility. Henri Nouwen discuss this icon extensively in his book, Behold, the Beauty of the Lord.
Navaho Madonna
In this icon by Br. Robert Lenzt, OFM, Mary here wears her traditional Byzantine colors, but she is a Navaho woman. Jesus is strapped to a cradleboard and He is laughing for His first time -- a special moment in every Navaho’s life. His parents will now give a feast so that He will not be stingy as He grows up. The inscription by Mary’s head is Church Slavonic for “Mother of God.” The inscription above the cradleboard is "Jesus Christ," and the letters in Christ’s halo mean "I am who am," the name God told Moses in the Old Testament. Around the bottom and sides of the icon is one of the Holy People of Navaho religion -- a Rainbow Yei. He always surrounds religious sand paintings. Purchase this icon.
Jesus of the People
Late in 1999 Janet McKenzie's painting "Jesus of the People" was selected winner of the National Catholic Reporter's competition for a new image of Jesus by judge, Sister Wendy Beckett, host of the PBS show "Sister Wendy's Story of Painting." In the words of Sister Wendy, "This is a haunting image of a peasant Jesus -- dark, thick-lipped, looking out on us with ineffable dignity, with sadness but with confidence. Over His white robe He draws the darkness of our lack of love, holding it to Himself, prepared to transform all sorrows if we will let Him."
Ms. McKenzie's position as winner has been life-altering as well as humbling. Her goal was to create a work of art in keeping with her beliefs as a person and artist, and inclusive of groups previously uncelebrated in Christ's image, especially African Americans and women. She hoped "Jesus of the People" might remind that we all are created in God's likeness. The worldwide welcoming celebration of this interpretation of Jesus and the gratitude expressed to her, as well as the onslaught of negative responses, affirm her belief that this work, this particular vision of Jesus, was meant to exist now. Learn more about this icon.
St. Olga of Alaska
Olga Michael, known as Saint Olga of Alaska, Saint Olga of Kwethluk, or Matushka Olga, was an Eastern Orthodox priest's wife from Kwethluk village, on the Kuskokwim River in Alaska. In 2023, she became the first North American woman, and the first Yup'ik person, to be canonized as an Orthodox saint. (Source: Wikipedia.) Religion News Service article at the time of St. Olga's canonization.
This worship setting is the focal point for our services at the first gathering of The Upper Room's Spirituality in Practice held at the Conference Center at St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois.
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