One of the most famous icons in Orthodoxy“Ascension of the Lord” reveals in its plot the most important event of the New Testament. Jesus Christ, combining in himself the Divine essence with human nature, commits in His Face the ascension and deification of human nature, previously damaged by the original sin and doomed death. This icon carries the visual promise to all the righteous to appear at the Throne of God and inherit eternal life.
Communication of the New Testament plot with Jewish law
The event in whose memory the icon was written"Ascension of the Lord," celebrated in the Christian world on the fortieth day after Easter. This corresponds to the biblical record, since, according to the testimony of the apostles, the Lord was with them for forty days after His Resurrection, before ascending to the Throne of His Father.
It should be noted that the number of days is forty,indicated by chance. It derives from the Jewish tradition. According to the Law of Moses, every baby, forty days after birth, was to be brought to the temple to the Lord. Since the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead personifies the birth to a new life, in full accordance with the Law on the fortieth day He enters the Heavenly Temple of His Father.
Holiday value
Чем же особенно дорога нам икона «Вознесение Lord? Its value primarily lies in the fact that it is dedicated to the holiday, which can be fully called “the holiday of Heaven”. But not of the material, but of spiritual Heaven - the Kingdom of God, which was shut from us by the fall of our ancestors - Adam and Eve. Since then, the burden of sin has hung over all people, condemning them to earthly life with its sufferings, perplexity and death. The icon of the Ascension of the Lord represents the discovery of the people of Heaven as the once lost and re-found Eternal House.
The ancient setting of the holiday
A holiday dedicated to this major eventIt was established in the period of early Christianity. This is known primarily from the apostolic decrees that prescribe marking it on the fortieth day after Easter. In addition, the testimony of prominent church fathers such as John Chrysostom and St. Augustine is very important in this regard.
The authors of the same sacred texts to worshipof this day were authorities so respected in all ages of Christianity as John of Damascus and Joseph the Song-reader. It is impossible not to recall the well-known diaries of the West European pilgrim Egeria, who visited the Holy Land at the end of the 4th century and left a detailed account of the celebration of the Ascension Day. The only distinguishing feature was that in those years this holiday was celebrated simultaneously with the holiday of Pentecost.
Theme of Ascension in Art
The theme of this holiday is widely reflected infine art. It should be noted that the iconography of the image is currently presented in two versions. The first one is easel icon painting, which was formed at the very dawn of Christianity and was developed first in the works of Byzantine masters and later on by Russian icon painters. The second option is a monumental temple painting. The Ascension of the Lord is often in it the main plot of the painting of the dome. The most vivid of his samples belong to the XI-XIV centuries.
In order to clearly imagine howa plot-compositional principle has been formed, on the basis of which almost every known icon “Ascension of the Lord” is written, refer to the earliest images that have come down to us. Among them, the first thing to mention is the carved composition on the wooden doors of the Roman church of Santa Sabina.
Early known images of the Ascension
The composition represents the ascending Savior,depicted in a round medallion surrounded by four symbols of evangelists. Below is a vault of heaven with luminaries, and below it are figures of two apostles holding a cross over the head of a woman, in which the Most Holy Theotokos can easily be guessed.
Another early image of this story.presented on one of the vessels of the 6th-7th centuries from the treasury of the cathedral in Monza. On it, the figure of Christ at the moment of ascension is represented in mandrola (vertical oval), and the composition itself is supplemented with images of angels, the twelve apostles and Our Lady Orans (a figure with hands raised in prayer). This interpretation and formed the basis of subsequent compositions.
The Lord is in His glory
On all existing icons "Ascension",The Savior is depicted in the halo of glory and triumph, and is the image of Togo Judge, who, according to the promise, will come to pay "to everyone according to his deeds." This iconographic type of the image of Jesus Christ is called Pantekrator, that is, the Almighty. The statehood of the King of Heaven, leading all his faithful to the high world, is the main feeling that gives birth to the Ascension of the Lord icon.
From amber and bronze, from silver and ivorythe masters performed church utensils with the image of this scene. Among them are genuine works of art. Their samples can be seen in the largest museums in the world. And it is no coincidence, because one can hardly find a more famous and recognizable plot in Christian art than the icon "Ascension of the Lord." Chromolithography, starting from the time when folk popular prints began to be replicated on the basis of its technology, allowed these images to enter the home of every Orthodox family, regardless of its wealth, which undoubtedly served to further popularize the plot.
