www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Photo Gallery Our Lady of the Sign-Ark of Mercy

The iconic monstrance, Our Lady of the Sign – Ark of Mercy, was unveiled and blessed by Cardinal Francis George, May 31, 2008, on the Feast of the Visitation. The idea of the iconic monstrance was conceived nine years prior to its unveiling. At that time a call was heard which resulted in the entrustment and consecration of the parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A discernment led by Fr. Anthony Bus C.R. inspired a parish wide response to establish in the heart of Chicago, a Sanctuary to The Divine Mercy. The doors of the parish were opened and eyes were turned to Mary, Holy Queen and Mother of Mercy, that the “cacophony of the world not shout into silence the voice of the living God.” It was accepted that the Blessed Virgin Mary had asked for and created space for sacred silence that the voice of her Son would be heard anew and that He would be adored in the Blessed Sacrament. At the request of Fr. Anthony, Stefan Niedorezo was commissioned to sculpt the image of the iconic monstrance according to the design conveyed in the Book of Revelation. Malgorzata Sawczuk was commissioned to apply the paint and gold gilding to the iconic monstrance.

This falls under Kipling's famous line "....east is east, west is west..." Stylistically speaking, and carefully choosing my words here, this type of image doesn't resonate among most Eastern Christians. By so saying, I am not commenting on the narrative, just the picture.

Oh My! Let's just hope that this sort of thing stays with the Latins.

It is meant to be along the lines of a depiction of Mary as Ark of the New Covenant, since she carried what was holier than herself in her womb for nine months. Just as the Ark of the (Old) Covenant carried what was holier than itself, the Tablets of the Law, she carried the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. She is the "original tabernacle" for the Blessed Sacrament. Since Jesus is the Divine Mercy, that is why she is here called the Ark of Mercy.

I think that all Eastern Christians, Catholic and Orthodox alike know what the Panagia, Our Lady of the Sign, represents.It is the most beloved Theotokas among the Orthodox.

Our issue is with the style here and the slightly different symbology involved. A monstrance is not an appropriate means to make such a representation in the Christian East, that's my point.

To quote OrthodoxWiki:

"In iconography, Panagia is used in referring to icons of the Virgin Mary. Of the many icon examples of Panagia, one of note is that of the Theotokos wherein she faces the viewer directly, usually depicted full length, with her hands in theans position, and with a medallion showing the image of Christ as a child in front of her chest . The medallion symbolically represents Jesus within the womb of the Virgin Mary at the moment of the Incarnation.

This representation is also called the Virgin of the Sign or Our Lady of the Sign, a reference to Isaiah 7:14 ("Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel"). Such an image is often placed in the apse of Orthodox church buildings." http://orthodoxwiki.org/Panagia