Icon of “Do Not Touch Me” – F117

Description

This superb example of Cretan early 16th century iconography is now in the Institute of Greek Studies in Venice.  Saint Mary Magdalene kneels before the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and she is clothed in a wide, loose, Gothic-style red cape, a very Frankish attribute of all sinful women in Cretan painting of that time frame.  She has just recognized Him, for she had thought at first that He was just a gardener, and wanted to know where Jesus was buried.  When Jesus spoke her name, “Mary,” she knew Him immediately.

The cave with the grave clothes still intact is in the background of this icon, for their meeting was close to the grave.  Jesus is shown in darker garments with an expression of peace on His face.  His hands and feet show the marks of the Nails that had  pierced them when He was hung on the Cross for our salvation.  The words, “Do Not Touch Me” (in Latin, “Noli Me Tangere”) which describe this icon, refer to what Christ had told her, “Do not touch Me; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God and your God” (John 20:17).