Icon of the visitation of the Theotokos and St Elizabeth

[Barbara S.]

I have been searching for years for an icon I have heard exists which depicts the Theotokos visiting St. Elizabeth. I have found icons which depict these two embracing.

However, the icon I've been told exists (but have yet to see - in person, photo, etc.) represents not only these two embracing, but depicts our Lord also in His Mother's womb, as well as St. John the Forerunner in his mother's womb. Has anyone ever seen this icon? Any thoughts on where I might find a copy or photograph?

Although as I shared above, I've been searching for this for years, my need is once again acute. We are participating in the 40 Days for Life by praying in front of Planned Parenthood, and I think this would be a beautiful testimony of the ancient Truth, especially in that environment.

Thank you for your assistance!

[Nina]

I have been searching for years for an icon I have heard exists which depicts the Theotokos visiting St. Elizabeth. I have found icons which depict these two embracing.

However, the icon I've been told exists (but have yet to see - in person, photo, etc.) represents not only these two embracing, but depicts our Lord also in His Mother's womb, as well as St. John the Forerunner in his mother's womb. Has anyone ever seen this icon? Any thoughts on where I might find a copy or photograph?

Although as I shared above, I've been searching for this for years, my need is once again acute. We are participating in the 40 Days for Life by praying in front of Planned Parenthood, and I think this would be a beautiful testimony of the ancient Truth, especially in that environment.

Thank you for your assistance!


Wow! I would also love to see this icon!

[Olga]

Hello Barbara

I have not come across an icon of the Visitation which shows the newly-incarnate Christ in the Virgin's womb, though I would be happy to look for one.

One icon which does have this sort of portrayal is the 12thC icon of the Annunciation commonly known as the Ustiug Annunciation, after the Novgorodian monastery where it was produced:

http://latin.bestmoodle.net/media/ustiug400.jpg

[Nicolaj]

Well here is one I came across, but I will look it up, perhaps something can be found.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Nicolaj]

Found some nice Icons in my fundus, the one you are looking for is to be found in original in an church on Cyprus.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Barbara S.]

Thank you Nicolaj and Olga for the beautiful icons and pictures! Nicolaj, I would LOVE to know more details about the church in Cyrpus. I actually found a photo of the same icon, but not showing all the detail. Thank you!

I also found this one:
http://squarezero.org/blogpix/2006/visitation.jpg

And a photo of a similar one by the hand of Christine Uveges - I'd LOVE to see a better photo of the icon alone, not behind glass:
http://www.archangelinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/icondoor.jpg

One other icon I found which was interesting is "Christ, the Author of Life":
http://www.oclife.org/images/newhomepagebanner.jpg

I've never uploaded photos in this manner, so I pray this works out ok.

Thanks again for your efforts on our behalf! I would LOVE to see any others which people find and I will definitely upload any others we find. The Visitation is an incredibly beautiful occurance in the history of our Mother and has been portrayed in lovely ways by artists of many traditions. I think these icons which depict the little humans - basically a third trimester fetus bowing in reverence to our Lord, a first-trimester fetus - are very powerful and may by God's grace, communicate much better than we can with words.

Much love,
Barbara

[Olga]

A word of caution, if I may:

While the icons of the Visitation which show the unborn Christ and St John may be technically acceptable, if rare, in iconographic tradition, may I suggest the image of Christ holding the motif of the unborn foetus is inappropriate for veneration. Christ holds a Gospel book or a scroll in his icons for a very good reason, as it represents the wisdom of God. The translucent round motif held by Him in the image Barbara provided is based on the motif held by archangels, which have the Greek initial letters for Christ the Righteous Judge, or, in the case of many Slavic icons, the Slavonic abbreviation of Svyat (Holy), in reference to the Thrice-holy Hymn which is constantly sung by them in their glorification of the Holy Trinity.

Christ is indeed the Author of Life, and while the Church's teachings on abortion are generally clear, it does not seem proper to have such a motif on an icon of Christ. I suspect that this image has been produced with a social or sociopolitical motive in mind, and, as I have often mentioned in the past, such motives, however honourable in intent, are quite outside the realm of what iconography is about.

[Andreas Moran]

To add to Olga's comment, I thought that the Holy Spirit is the 'giver of life', as we pray everyday in both the introductory prayers and in the Creed. It was He Who 'overshadowed' the Mother of God, and is it not He Who particpates in the creation of new human life? The said icon therefore tends to some confusion in our understanding of the Trinity.

[Nina]

Link (http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/english.htm). Something interesting.

[Olga]

(http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/english.htm)Link (http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/english.htm). Something interesting.
(http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/english.htm)

Umm, Nina, the link shows a summary of the feast of the Meeting of the Lord. I'm not sure how this ties in with the visitation of the Mother of God to Elizabeth.

[Nina]

Thankfully you keep me in check! It is not what I am trying to link and I believe the website links by default the feast which is approaching. So that being said thank God I am still lucid to know that that feast does not tie with the thread. And that being said: here I provide the link (http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/english.htm) again just so you see that it is because of the website's default settings. And that being said here I copy and paste what I wanted to link here in my post above... ok?:


The "Help in Birth-giving" Icon

26 December / 8 January

http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/icons/theotokos_other/help_birth.jpgFrom time immemorial, it has been known that in moments of the most intense suffering of the birthing process, women run with especially fervent prayer to the Savior and to His Most-pure Mother. In our time as well, pious families keep copies of the Icon of the Mother of God known as the �Help in Birth-giving� Icon. In this Icon, the Most-pure Virgin is depicted full-length, standing with hands upraised, and with the Babe in her arms, as in the �Sign� Icon. Mothers bow down before this Icon, calling in fervent prayer upon the assistance of the Most-blessed Virgin Mary, the one who had painlessly given birth to Christ the Savior. They call out to her in a mother�s awesome, uniquely mysterious and secret moment, in the belief that she is a strong intercessor and helper before God for all who suffer and are heavy-laden. And who, running to the Queen of Heaven, can come away without being comforted by her in times of sorrow and ills?! Her almighty intercession brings a solution to all the illnesses and sufferings from which no earthly power or earthly riches could save us.
There is another very ancient Icon, known as the �Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, helper to women giving birth to children.� On that Icon, the Mother of God is depicted with head uncovered, her hair flowing down her shoulders, and her arms folded upon her breast. The fingers of the left hand partially cover the fingers of the right. Below the level of her wrists sits the Divine Infant, the fingers of His right hand forming the acronym of His Name (ICXC), and the left resting upon His knee. His feet protrude from below the hem of his garments. The Theotokos� outer garment is red and gold, with a gold star on each shoulder. Her inner garment is dark green, with flashes of gold and with gold stars, and the same kind of trim on her collar and cuffs. The Theotokos� head inclines slightly. The Savior�s clothing is yellow and gold, blending on his chest into a dark green color. The entire composition is written on a semi-circle.

[Nina]

PS And the thread is not about the visitation of the Theotokos and St. Elizabeth although that is the title. The first post looks for the icon with an another purpose.

[Paul Cowan]

Olga, if you can...in the description of the icon Nina blessed us with above, why in many icon descriptions do they not mirror the icon? You would think the author of the text would look at the icon as he is describing it or else use an icon he is describing.

????

Paul

[Margaret S.]

This is not an icon nor will it be much use to Barbara but I it's rather lovely. I think the Mische technique used by the artist is similar to the one iconographers use which probably accounts for it's iconic 'glow'.

http://www.brigidmarlin.com/Pages/CatholicMysteries/Visitation.html

Regards
Margaret
in Edinburgh

[L. Uveges]

"And a photo of a similar one by the hand of Christine Uveges - I'd LOVE to see a better photo of the icon alone, not behind glass:"

The following is in regard to "a better photo of the icon alone, not behind glass by the hand of Christine Uveges."

Christine is my sister. You may see her work at http://www.eikonastudios.com or contact her at her studio in Cleveland, Ohio 216-575-1416. I am writing this with her permission. Christine is an Iconographer who has done work for many Byzantine and Greek Orthodox churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and elsewhere.

She recently emailed me the following in regard to the icon of The Visitation at the Right to Life Rally in Washington D.C. in January 09.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee4H2ooUszE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee4H2ooUszE)

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Above is a link of the Byzantines going to the Right to Life Rally in Washington D.C. The icon of the Visitation ( done by Eikona Studios - by the hand of Iconographer Christine Uveges ) was shown in poster size by the youth. One thousand icon holy cards were passed out by the Youth Groups.

[Christine Uveges]

I have been searching for years for an icon I have heard exists which depicts the Theotokos visiting St. Elizabeth. I have found icons which depict these two embracing.

However, the icon I've been told exists (but have yet to see - in person, photo, etc.) represents not only these two embracing, but depicts our Lord also in His Mother's womb, as well as St. John the Forerunner in his mother's womb. Has anyone ever seen this icon? Any thoughts on where I might find a copy or photograph?

Although as I shared above, I've been searching for this for years, my need is once again acute. We are participating in the 40 Days for Life by praying in front of Planned Parenthood, and I think this would be a beautiful testimony of the ancient Truth, especially in that environment.

Thank you for your assistance!

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Greetings Barbara! Thre is an earlier prototype of this Icon in Lebanon in an Antiochian Orthodox Church. This Icon of the Visitation is by my hand. For nearly 30 yrs. I have had the spiritual vocation as an Iconographer ( thank God )--I am a tool for the Holy Spirit. It has been through the Holy Spirit that this glorious Icon of the Visitation has been selected by many pro life group, seminaries, monasteries, and many individuals throughout the world. We were also asked to place this icon at St. John the Baptist's birthplace in Ein Karem. Not a week goes by that we receive wonderous stories about how praying with this Icon has brought people closer to their faith in God; how it has assisted them in times of despair ( a deah in faith ) and in joyous times of life. We do have this icon availablefrom our studio - Eikona Studios in Cleveland, Ohio.
You may look us up or write me via Monachos.
Many Blessings...
A servant of the servants,
Christine Uveges
Iconographer at Eikona Studios