Icon of the Theophany

[Jonathan Michael]

Hello everyone,

I have seen a number of Icons of the Theophany with small blue people swimming in the river beneath Christ's feet; here is an example:

http://megumitoai.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/theophany-icon.jpg

In other icons there are two - one male, one female - of these figures, and in some icons they do not appear at all.

Does any one know what they are?

Thank you in advance

[Vasiliki D.]

Hello everyone,
In other icons there are two - one male, one female - of these figures, and in some icons they do not appear at all. Does any one know what they are? Thank you in advance

Dear jonathan, the woman (often with a crown and scepter) is a symbol of the sea. The man (usually holding a water-pot from which water rushes) is a symbol of the river. These two figures are brought into the scene in accordance with Psalm 113 (114) verse 3. "The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned back", one of the verses chanted at Epiphany.