Nativity of Christ

The centre of the composition depicts the cavern with the manger where lies the Divine Child and before the cavern is shown the Mother of God on the bed. The ox and the donkey bend over the Divine Child, according to the prophecy of Isaiah they symbolize the baptized pagans. Above the cavern is depicted the quadrant, the ray emanates from it, with the star of Bethlehem and the dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit) inside. In the lower part of the icon are represented Joseph talking to the shepherd, the two women washing the Divine Child and the other shepherd attending to the angel’s annunciation. The scene of washing shows the Child Jesus in the hands of Salome who according to the Apocrypha doubted the virginity of Mary and was punished for that – her hand was scorched (as if it was put in fire). After repenting she was healed through the prayer to the Mother of God. The specific feature of the icon is the depiction of Salome with the halo around her head. But the main peculiarity is the bright red celestial semi-circle depicted above the rocks with the eight “immaterial” angels (painted with the white pigment) inside it.

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  General view