Thursday 14 May 2015

Virgin Platytera of the Heavens


The iconographic work is continuing in our Holy Church. We are now privileged to have on the Sanctuary apse, above the altar, our Virgin Mary - “Platytera” of the Heavens!


The Platytera (Greek: Πλατυτέρα) is facing the congregation directly, depicted almost full length with her hands in the "orans" position, and with the image of Christ as a child in front of her chest, also facing the congregation directly.


Poetically, by containing the Creator of the Universe in her womb, Mary has become “Platytera ton ouranon”, which means: "More spacious than the heavens." This type is sometimes 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 Emmanuel."


The iconographer Theodoros Vogdanos welcomes everyone who would like to go up on the scaffolding and observe his work from very close.

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