Icon of the Annunciation (Theophanes) – F01

Description

One of the famous 16th century Stavronikita Festal set of icons, this icon depicts the moment of God’s Incarnation on earth after the Archangel Gabriel greets the Virgin Mary and she agrees to become the Birth-Giver of God become man.  The Virgin is seated and spinning wool for the Temple in Jerusalem.  In this remarkable exchange between the Angelic messenger and the best representative of the human race, the Virgin undoes Eve’s disobedience by agreeing to things above human reason by her great faith, making her the New Eve of all those alive in God through Jesus Christ. 

The monk Theophanes the Cretan painted this set of icons on the iconostasis, or icon screen which separates the Bema, or sacred Altar, from the body of the Church, or Nave, where the Faithful stand for Divine Liturgy and other liturgical services.  The set shows many of the most important events in the life of Jesus and the Church in its early and formative stage.  This icon is the first in that set.  Theophanes’ icons are considered masterpieces of iconographic art, still adorn the church at Stavronikita Monastery on Mount Athos, and show marvelous Cretan post-Byzantine form.