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Dearly beloved in Christ,

Glory to Jesus Christ !

I don't recall ever seeing an icon of the Theotokos alone. She is always shown with her Son. Is it safe to say that in Byzantine iconography the Theotokos is never shown without her Son? Or is this just my imagination? Are there any Byzantine icons of the Theotokos shown alone?

Glory forever !

Joe Prokopchak
The best gifts are not found on store shelves, but in our hearts.

There are some, but these are clearly not too common. The one we are probably most familiar with is the icon of the protection (pokrov), or the protecting veil. I suppose, that even in those where Christ is not depicted explicitly, we could not consider him absent?

Joe--another icon that I have seen that has the Theotokos alone is "Mother of God-Joy of all who sorrow." Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, MA has one of these for viewing on their site.

John.

Ive never seen one. I wonder if its not allowed according to Orthodox Canons on Iconography?

In Christ
Daniel

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!

The ikon of the Annunciation is one...

the least servant of the servants....

mark

Slava Isusu Krystu!

I believe in the Annunciation she is already wearing a band on her belly to signify her pregnancy. So in cases were the Theotokos is depicted alone this is not the case though Christ is not written in the Icon, He is within the womb of the Theotokos.

Another Icon is Theotokos of Mount Athos. A beautiful Icon of the monks in Holy Mount Athos dedication to her motherly care.

God bless!
eumir

Dear Joe,
Glory to Jesus Christ!

In iconography, the Mother of God should be depicted with Christ. Her purpose is to lead us to Christ. Many icons show the tenderness and closeness between mother and Son. Their cheeks touch, and they breathe the same air. She is showing us great spiritual truth in the icons, and we remember her last spoken words in Scripture at the wedding at Cana: "Do what He tells you".

There may be some exceptions to this but they are rare. The Annunciation icon is not one. It depicts the Theophany (manifestation) of the Trinity, and the moment of Incarnation of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May you have a most blessed Christmas.
Deacon El

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!

Once again, we are talk semantics here...

I took the words "without her Son" to mean not holding her Son or touching her Son.

In the Annunciation, she is not hold her son in her arms...

JMHO....

mark

When we were talking about this topic some time ago, I searched and found iconographic depictions of the presentation of Mary in the temple without her Son; by Medved's criterion depictions of the visitation with Elizabeth would also be included as without her Son.

In the prior discussion, the tendency for her to be depicted with her Son was considered as someting of a brake on her veneration. But the obvious truth, is that she is alone among saints, including the apostles, in almost always being depicted with the Redeemer. It speaks loudly to the her unique and awesome role in salvation history.

There is also the icon of Mary venerated by St Seraphim of Sarov, with Mary alone in prayer. If I recall, the last time this came up, those who argue that Mary is never to be portrayed alone in icons argued that Christ is in fact invisibly present, which sort of begs the question.
Just about everything one can say about iconography has exceptions, from what I have seen.

Daniel

That particular Icon [ my Avatar] is an Annunciation Icon.

Mary is looking inwards to where Christ is in her womb.

Or so I have been told

Anhelyna

The icon of the Theotokos of Ostrabrama also depicts the Mother of God only

Ken, I keep the icon of the Theotokos of Ostrabrama as a screensaver on my computer. She is so very very beautiful!

Rose2

CIX!

There's the two of the Mother of God, with seven swords piercing her chest.

One has three on the right, three on the left, and one coming from below. The other has four on one side and three on the other. Which of the two is called "Softner of Evil Hearts", I forget.

Just my two cents!

Edward

For your consideration:

Why is it in iconography that the Theotokos,first among the saints, who is more honorable than the cherubim and beyond comapre more glorious than the seraphim, is "required" to be depicted with her Son? I've certainly seen no icons of any othert saints who are required to be depicted with Christ. Certainly all those depicted in the icons lead us to and reflect Christ.