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Icon of Holy ���Ҵ�ý, Angelic Doctor

Located inside the Iversen Center for Faith

“Holy ���Ҵ�ý” icon

In the Fall of 2012, Campus Ministry commissioned Nicholas Markell '84 to write an icon of St. ���Ҵ�ý Aquinas, the University's patron.

Markell wrote the icon called "Holy ���Ҵ�ý" in the tradition of Eastern iconography. The process of writing a sacred image in this style is a form of prayer beginning with the initial design and continuing through its use in Divine Worship.

To learn more, watch a presentation given by iconographer Nicholas Markell all about the .

Symbolic Meaning

The Meaning Behind the Symbols in the Holy ���Ҵ�ý Icon:

Name

• Get back in touch with the word "Holy"

Motto

• Non-Aliam Nisi Te
• "Only you Lord" and "What do you ask of me?"
• The Vision of St. ���Ҵ�ý - Christ asked him"What do you ask of me?" and his response was "Only you, Lord."

Title

• Angelic doctor (see angels, fire red)

Humanity

• Not expressed in face
• Violet in nimbus (halo) symbolizes humanity

Blessed Sacrament

• Usually St. ���Ҵ�ý icons have light over chest

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Additional Notes

From a talk given by Iconographer Nicholas Markell on Tuesday, September 24, 2013:

We say we can write an icon- because we can read it.

Icon is Greek for "image"

• Referred to as the visible word- corresponding to the scripture
• Rooted in scripture: Gen 1:26

Icons are to be given the same veneration as the life-giving cross and the book of the Gospels- Nicea II

CCC 1160: Period of "Christian Iconography"

"Icons evoke a hunger for God." St. John Damascus

"It is a proclamation of the Gospel in line and color and it is an invitation to a relationship..."

Icon resonates with the intellect of the heart- not only of this world.

Corresponds with the Beatific Vision.

What distinguishes an icon from other images in the world?

• Must be theoretically correct (mind of the church)
• Artistically Appropriate (bears the weight of mystery)
• Spark senses of divine. Can walk the bridge between the natural and supernatural world.
• Symbolic Language (visual language)

7 Principles of the Icon

1. Radiance: Christ is light- a spiritual light (gold - symbolizes divine light)
   
   
2. Perspective: Can suspend laws of nature to bring forth theological truth
   
   
3. Flatness:
   • 2-dimensional image- the window to heaven
   • See through it to another world- opens up other images
4. Anatomy: images are living in a transfigured body- sometimes elongated- looks larger than life
   
   
5. Symbolism
   • Meaning beyond itself- opens up concepts
   • E.g. Ship symbolizes the church itself, Paul with the sword, Peter with staff/keys
     
     
6. Garments
   • Shows heaven- harmony and fulfilled
   • Royalness shows we are heir to the Kingdom
     
     
7. Creation: We are part of the created world

Steps in the Process

• All natural materials are used
• Gold has a clay base (red). After base- breathe hot air when putting gold down. This symbolizes the breath of God.
• Move from dark to light (darkness to spiritual light) of Christ
• They never paint shadows - bring light to where there was darkness
• Four Lights - go in these stages
  1. Body
  2. Soul
  3. Spirit
  4. Light of God

Mixing colors creates a relationship in the colors called the incarnation of color.

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