www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology MP OV meaning

Dear Friends,
I have an beautiful silver Icon of the Theotokos and Christ Child. In the Icon, to the left are the letters MP and the right are OV.
I know that these are Greek letters and probably represent "Mother of God"
Can someone translate this for me.

Thanks

Transliterated from Greek MP OY is Meter Theou -- Mother of God.

In Christ,

John

Thanks so much John.

Brad

I should add that the letter in question is a Theta, not an O.

When you see two letters and a small squiggle over them, it means that the word has been abbreviated, and you are seeing the first and last letters of the word.

[rant] I have heard of too many "icons" of various Catholic saints that are marked by the letters for the Mother of God, while the "title" on the image indicates that this is not what is meant. Please, please, please, everyone...buy your icons from reputable iconographers who know what they are doing!!! [/rant]

Gaudior, a bit cranky today

Gaudior,
thanks for your post. In fact the abbreviated letters in the Icon (which was purchased and made in Greece) is actually the Theta. I just did not know how to post that character in this forum.

The Icon is made of pure silver 950 and mounted onto what seems to be some form of compressed dark wood (MDF maybe)

Interestingly, these letters are on the front facade of my (Latin) Catholic parish church, with a dove shining heavenly rays on an image of Our Lady.

This kind of stuff doesn't just belong to the East, you know!

Logos Teen

Dear Logos Teen,

I don't think that it was implied that this is an exclusively eastern identification, but more or less implied that it is a universal identification in iconography when referring to an icon of the Theotokos. You have to remember that in most Latin Churches, traditional iconography such as may be seen in churches of the eastern rites does not exist. Many a time I am asked by Latin Catholics what the letters on an icon of Christ or the Theotokos mean. They simply have not been exposed to it.

You have to remember that in most Latin Churches, outside of stations of the Cross and a few statues, there is not much iconography to help educate the faithful. I hope this helps.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Father, bless!

I was speaking a little tongue-in-cheek. I by no means believe that any significant number of Latin Catholic faithful have an idea what MP OY means. Heck, the parishioners at my church probably don't even know what it means, and they walk under it every Sunday!

Actually a Western form of "iconography" (if you fit that word to a Western context) that I love is frescoe, inside or outside a church. Some of the larger churches in Italy have inlaid mosaics and frescoes and paintings that cover the entire facade of the outside front of the church. The Cathedral of St. Catherina in Siena and the Cathedral of Orvieto come to mind. They're astonishgly spectacular.

Logos Teen

Dear Logos Teen,

If you have the opportunity to find one (I am not sure it would exist), see if there is an online tour of the Cathedral in Ravenna Italy. Beautiful mosaics! I also agree that the frescoes can be beautiful. I also had the opportunity several years ago of viewing the Van Eyck Triptych in Ghent Belgium. Simply breath taking, and was one of the largest I have ever seen in my life.

Religious art, both eastern and western speak to many in different ways.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Father,

Couldn't find a visual tour, exactly, but I did find some regular pictures of the inside mosaics. They're beautiful.

Logos Teen

Dear Logos Teen,

Thank you for letting me know about the the Cathedral of St. Catherina in Siena and the Cathedral of Orvieto. Hopefully some day I will be able to see them for myself.

I know that Ravenna has the most outstanding byzantine mosaics....of course since the ones in the 'Eastern Empire' were destroyed. Mosaics had always been very expensive, so that only royalty could afford it...so I'm dying to make my own icon. The problem is that I don't know where I can find the tools, etc.

Oh well, someday!

Zenovia

[Linked Image]

Beautiful fresco from Santa Maria Novella in Florence by Andrea Da Firenze. Back in the days when we Latins knew how to decorate the sanctuary :p

THANK YOU Myles!

....'be still my heart'....for such artistic beauty is rare!

Fondly,
Alice

Dear Myles,

Also the days when 'genius' abounded. Thank you for it.

Zenovia

I've been to Santa Maria Novella in Firenze, Myles. It's breathtaking; pretty much every square inch of Florence is. That could be argued for all of Tuscany, really.

Logos Teen