Picture of Salvation
Part Three
Dear Children of God! How are you? How have you been on this fast season of “Prophets Fast?” This is a fast Prophets fasted for the Prophecies for the Holy Father’s Son, the Holy Son to be Born from our Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary and redeem the world. For this reason, we fast a-same following the prophets example for the salvation of our soul.
Children, you shall never forget to learn and be well educated for passing the entire worldly and heavenly test. It is also known you semester final exam is reaching and so you must study very well and obtain good grades. You shall not forget to attend the Church education and liturgy as well on the Sabbath.
Little ones, if you remember, on our last lesson, we have seen on how “Pictures of Salvation” are painted. Now, we will learn about the types of colors we use to paint the Holy Icons (pictures of Salvation).
Let us see first the definition of the word color. The Patristic Father (Church Father) the Ethiopian Aleka Kidane Wolde, defines it as, “harmony, liquid, kind, writer, dye.” (Aleka Kidane Wolde Dictionary, page 793)
Colors send message within the Holy Icons accord the doctrine (teaching) of Church. The colors used to paint Holy Icons of the creator of the world Holy Trinity, Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary, Archangels, Holy Fathers and Mothers, which it shows differentiating the strength of persistence, their honor and ordained name.
Dear children of God! As we have seen last time, a round light crown is painted on the head of the saints. It is the indication of their honor given to them by Holy Church. The round shape that is painted on the Holy Icons of Holy Trinity and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ indicates God’s Holiness and Attributes. When it is made/painted/ for saints (holy people), it indicates the endowment (giving) of God, Holy attributes to them in reward to their good endeavors.
The canon of Church orders to use the white, blue, yellow, green and red, having their own mystery (secret). Let us look at them each one by one.
White፡- it is a color exemplifying purity and absoluteness. As holy people are pure hearted saints, who have defeated this world, they are painted wearing white close. It also shows Divine Glory. For instance, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is painted wearing yellow on the Holy Icons on Debre Tabore Mount and on of Resurrection Day. (Orthodoxy Holy Icons, page 74)
Blue: – when pictures of salvation are painted, they are painted blue to indicate the heavenly kingdom attained by good work of righteous fathers and mothers. It is the fruit achieved by hate of sin and evil work, faithfully, in patience, humility, love and mercy. (Galatians 5:22) It is painted blue to show their triumph on the wordiness and corporeal desire. The other indication is to show their holy life a-parting from wrath (anger), hatred and revenge.
Yellow: – This color resembles luminous. As He thoughts us “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden,” Holy Church orders the saint’s thrown to be painted yellow, indicating their good deed and righteousness, truthfulness, who are light of the world, reaching to holiness level, bestowed by her (Matthew 5:14)
Green:- The color is related with greenery and grace and so it resembles life, salvation and hope. Based on this, it shows our living life by Resurrection; Greenness and life will be correlated.
Red:- The painting of red of pictures of salvation shows martyrdom. Saint Paul have said on his epistle to the Hebrew people. “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mocking and scourging’s, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrew 11:35-38) According to the Apostles, the pictures of saints who have endured all the suffering and received martyrdom are painted red. We use this red color to paint the Holy Icons of Saints indicating their suffering to Christ and Church. Painting with red color is used as the sign of liberals.
Farewell Children! We have learned few about the colors used to paint Holy Icons “(Pictures of Salvation). We hope you have understood all the important ideas and learn them by heart. We end our lesson here and leave you with good wish in meeting you next time.
May God be with you; Amen!