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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