Orthodox Icon of the Nativity of Christ

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December 25th

Troparion (Tone 4)
Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world; For they who did worship the stars did learn from them to worship Thee, O Sun of Justice, and to know that thou didst come from the East of the Highest, Glory to Thee, O Lord.

Kontakion (Tone 3)
The Virgin today gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One, Angels and shepherds glorify Him, and wise men journey with a star. For a young Child is born for us, Who is from eternity God.

Jesus is wrapped in swaddling cloths in such a way that he resembles one wrapped for burial. This indicates that He was born to die for us. The red heifer is present in the cave, which is symbolic of being offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. The ass which bore Mary and Him out of town for his birth is there foreshadowing the Triumphal Entry as He goes willingly to the Cross to reconcile us to Himself. The angel in the mountains is shown above a shepherd. This tells the story of how the angel appeared to the shepherds singing and glorifying the birth of Christ, calling them to join in the praise. St. Joseph the Betrothed is shown in a struggle against his temptation. The old man talking to him represents his temptation, when he considered "putting Mary away quietly" not knowing whose child she was to bear. This icon fights a modern heresy as Mary bows, kneeling in worship to the Creator who came as a child. Even though she is the greatest of all Saints, Mary worships Christ our God who was God even in her womb.

This Icon is by the hand of Constantine Youssis and is from St. George's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Order # ygo-06