Description
This is a beautiful icon of Christ being lovingly taken down from the Cross by St. Joseph of Arimathea, St. Nikodemos, and one other disciple with two of the Myrrh-Bearing Women looking on. The Virgin Mother of God presses her cheek to His Hand as the Lord of Life now tasting death for all of our sakes is brought down to the ground. Often even Christians can forget how intensely personal God relates to the New Israel of His Church and to every one of us. He never just does “general” good, but it is always directly and intentionally personal to each person to whom He wills, and even extends to the animals and inanimate Creation. One of the terrible signs of the Fall of Adam was a fall into an impersonal vision of the Universe and all that is in it. This sinful view can and should be turned away from and repented of.
In this icon there is a soft and peaceful mood conveyed with warm and golden colors as a peace has descended on the world at the Lord accomplishing His Passion to the end, and the salvation of Adam and all of his race who desire it begun now directly and fully. May we be in that company of the saints.