The Communion of the Saints of the Early Church
This original icon emphasizes the unity in diversity of Early Christianity, before the 1054 schism between East and West. The saints of the Early Church of both Orthodox and Catholic backgrounds, united around Christ and Virgin Mary, connect us with our common historical roots and inspire us to live our Christian faith in love and humility. This icon emphasizes the diversity of male and female, light- and dark-skinned, geographic (African, European, Middle Eastern), ethnic (Greek, Slavic, Roman, Irish, Egyptian, Palestinian), and socioeconomic (Apostles, Fathers of the Church, holy martyrs, monastic and non-monastic, rich and poor). The Holy Mountain of God here shows Christ, Virgin Mary, and the saints appearing on approximately seven levels. The idea came from the Seven Story Mountain of Thomas Mann, although the Mountain of God has a Biblical origin with Moses on Mount Sinai. Christ the Pantocrator is above all, holding an open Gospel with the words “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life,” sitting next to Virgin Mary. Archangels Michael and Gabriel guard both sides as the Gatekeepers of the Holy of Holies. The Holy Spirit as the Dove of Peace hovers above all. At the corners are the symbols of the four evangelists: St. Matthew – an angel, St. Mark – a lion, St. Luke – an ox, and St. John – an eagle. St. Peter (1-68 AD), St. Paul (4-64 AD), and St. John the Theologian (9-100 AD) appear as the central pillar of the Church. At the side of Sts. Peter and Paul are St. Anthony of Egypt (251-356 AD), the founder of monasticism, and St. Benedict (480- 543 AD), the founder of western church monasticism. Their companions are St. Mary of Egypt (344-421 AD) and St. Mary Magdalene. St. Mary of Egypt is celebrated as the supreme example of repentance and asceticism, and St. Mary Magdalene of devotion and love for Christ. Central below are St. Nicholas of Myra and St. John Chrysostom. St. Nicholas of Myra (270-343 AD), also known universally as Santa Claus, a saint of extreme generosity, patron saint of the family, charity, and travel, but also as the Church Father instrumental at the Council of Nicea (325 AD). St. John Chrysostom (347-407 AD) is the author of the Orthodox Liturgy and prolific author of eloquent treatises and sermons as well as acts of charity to the poor and needy. St. Augustine and his mother Monica (331-387 AD) are especially important for doctrines of the Catholic Church. Without St. Monica’s life of devotion and prayer, St. Augustine would not have become a holy man and author of “The Confessions.” Similarly, St. Constantine and his mother St. Helen (248-328 AD) established foundations for the Church. St. Constantine established Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, and St. Helen discovered the Cross of the Crucifixion and other holy artifacts in the Holy Land and built churches there. St. Patrick (387-461 AD) spread Christianity in Ireland and Anglo-Saxon lands. St. Jerome (347-420 AD) translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate and authored volumes of Biblical, ascetical, monastic, and theological works. Similarly, the Apostles to the Slavs, Sts. Cyril (827-869 AD) and Methodius (815-886 AD), translated the Bible and the Church books from Greek into Old Bulgarian/Slavonic, created the Glagolitic alphabet, and through their disciples, the Cyrillic alphabet, enabling the transmission of Christianity into Slavic-speaking lands. The Holy Martyrs of the Early Church witnessed the true faith. St. Catherine of Alexandria (305-312 AD), the patron saint of philosophers and scholars, was martyred under Marxenius in Egypt. St. Sophia was martyred by Hadrian of Rome along with her daughters Elpis (Faith), Pistis (Hope) and Agapi (Love) in the 3rd century AD. St. Tatiana of Rome (d. 225 AD) received Holy Martyrdom under Alexander Severus who attempted to kill her in various ways, but her faith helped her to tame the lion brough to her cell, to make idols in the temple crumble, and to restore her vision, until decapitation. The purpose of this icon is to reconcile the Orthodox and Catholic saintly traditions. These saints are recognized by both churches. The title of the icon revealed itself during church service during Lent. Approaching the cup of Holy Communion, I realized that Communion was the perfect term to describe the fellowship and community of saints in Heaven. I was surprised later to discover that indeed the Catholic Church uses "Communion of the Saints" for similar icons.