www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Icons & Iconography The Color of Halos

Last Sunday, I attended Divine Liturgy at a parish which I haven't visited in several years. My son happened to spot something that had escaped my notice in all the times that I've been there in the past and I couldn't answer his query - so I turn to my brethren.

The temple has lovely stained glass windows, all iconicographic in styling and all but one or two of typical Eastern subjects and saints (a couple are reminders of the days of latinization). But - Conor pointed out differences in the colors of the nimbus from one Saint to another - the majority were typically gold/yellow, but others were blue, red, or green.

I could offer no answer, having never noticed it before and finding no obvious commonality to the Saints portrayed with a particular color. What think you? Am I looking at some quirk of creativity on the part of the artist or is there a meaning here that I've just never encountered previously (nor heard of)? (I will say, it wasn't garish or unattractive, but it did strike me as odd - the kids kind of liked it.)

Many years,

Neil

That sounds interesting. Do they appear to be the same artist?

Since stained glass windows are so costly I presume that it can take decades to install them.

Terry

Terry,

I would guess the same artist, style looks similar

The parish is just over a century old, but the church itself was built just after WWII as I recollect. Thinking about it, I might have an anniversary book somewhere, have to check that.

Many years,

Neil

I have seen schemes where different kinds of "martyrdom" are assigned colors- "red martyrdom" is dying for the faith, green and blue are related to ascetic feats. I've never heard about these colors working their way into the iconography though. Might be worth seeing which halo belongs to whom.

Seraphim,

I gave some thought to that idea at the time - being hard-pressed by an inquisitive 8 year old to provide an explanation (because Dad is supposed to know all the answers, except when Conor thinks he has a better one ), but couldn't work out a definitive scheme to it. Am going to have to go back and catalogue it a bit, see if that makes it clearer - either to me or someone here.

Many years,

Neil

In the book, SEARCH FOR ICONS IN RUSSIA,by Vladimir Alekseevich Soloukhin, the author states that from the 12th - 16th century, in Northern Russia at least, halos were done in different colors including green, red, cinnebar and finally gold. Hope this helps...

marko,

Very interesting. The parish in question is Melkite, but I have no idea who executed the stained glass window and I do know that a couple of Basilian Salvatorians at the nearby monastery - who staffed the parish at the time the church was built - were interested in Russian iconography. So, a connection to the history that you've offered isn't totally without its possibilities. Thanks for the info.

Many years,

Neil