...a Saviour has been born to you
Luke 2:11
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. First of six festive icons. Design based on a 16th century Russian icon of the Nativity, notable for its rich colours and pink mountain.
Tempera on panel with burnished water gilded haloes.
You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you
Mark1:11
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Second of six festive icons. Design based on iconographic elements from two 15th and 16th century Russian icons in order to include the Old Testament personifications of the River Jordan and the Red Sea that prefigure The Baptism, 'The Sea looked and fled, Jordan turned back'
Tempera on panel with burnished water gilded haloes.
He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness...
Colossians 1:13
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Third of six festive icons. Design based on a 15th c. Russian icon in which Christ breaks the doors of Hell to release Adam and Eve from sin and death and thus redeem mankind.
Tempera on panel with burnished water gilded haloes.
This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.
Acts 1:11
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Fourth of six festive icons. Design based on a 16th c. Russian icon from Novgorod. This icon marks the end of Christ's earthly ministry, the 'two men in white robes' [angels] foretell the Second Coming .The Mother of God is depicted in the ancient gesture of prayer (orant), she symbolises the church (as 'mother') and intercedes for humanity.
Tempera on panel with burnished water gilded haloes.
I shall pour out my Spirit on all humanity...
Acts 2:17
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Fifth of six festive icons. Design based on a 15th c. Russian icon from Novgorod. The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles is shown in the rays emanating from the sphere of heaven above. The figure below the Apostles represents Cosmos, the rest of the world that is in darkness who will be enlightened by the Word contained in the twelve scrolls he holds.Tempera on panel with burnished water gilded haloes.
She who is higher than the heavens and more glorious than the cherubim... commends her most pure soul into the hands of her Son.
The Festal Menaion Sticheron at Small Vespers
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Last in the series of six festive icons. Design based on a 15th c. Russian icon. According to Apocryphal tradition, the Mother of God 'fell asleep' (koimesis) and was assumed into heaven. Her soul is represented as the child Christ holds. The Apostles gather around her but a Jew, Jephonias tries to overturn the bier and has his hands cut off by an avenging angel (they were 'restored' upon his conversion.)
Tempera on panel with burnished water gilded haloes.
