Holy Virgin Mary The Celestial Portal Greek Orthodox Icon
SKU Icon-N-T-th69-2918
Important Timing Note: These are handcrafted icons from Greece. Please allow 2-5 weeks for delivery. The average turnaround time is 4 weeks. If you are in a rush for the icon, please do not order this handmade item.
~~~
The icon reproductions are created by iconographer monks of various Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece and all images are approved replications by the Greek Orthodox Church. As icons are considered to be the Gospel in image, these images are accurate and true Orthodox renderings, not second-hand interpretations.
These icon reproductions are prepared in the traditional Orthodox style: a fine detailed image is mounted on solid wood. The mounted image is covered with shellac to provide the luster of a traditional byzantine icon. The icon is then covered with multiple layers of varnish to coat the image with a protective layer that shields the colors from fading and protects from humidity. This Icon also has a hook on the back enabling it to be hung on walls.
These icons are a true Orthodox image approved by the Eastern Orthodox Archdiocese.
Iconographer: Holy Monastery of St. Meletios
In Greek Orthodox tradition, the life of the Virgin Mary is a profound narrative of faith and grace, beginning with her birth in Jerusalem. According to Orthodox beliefs, Mary was born to Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, who had long been childless and prayed fervently for a child. Her miraculous birth is celebrated in the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos on September 8. From a young age, Mary is revered for her purity and piety, and she was dedicated to the temple service as a consecrated virgin. Her life of devotion was marked by an unwavering commitment to God, and she is often depicted as embodying the virtues of humility and obedience.
Mary's pivotal role in Orthodox Christianity is highlighted by the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel visited her to announce that she would conceive the Son of God through the Holy Spirit. Embracing this divine call with profound faith, she became the Theotokos, or "God-bearer," and gave birth to Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Her life is celebrated through various feasts, including the Annunciation on March 25 and the Dormition (or Assumption) on August 15, which commemorates her death and subsequent ascent into heaven. Mary is venerated as the ultimate intercessor and protector of believers, symbolizing the ideal response to God's call and the embodiment of divine grace.
