The Fragrant Color icon is a very famous image of the Mother of God in the Orthodox tradition. It has a special meaning for Orthodox Christians around the world. But women are especially respected.
The article will tell about the "Fragrant Color" icon, its history, meaning and features.
The prototype and feature of the icon
The icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" served as the prototype for the "Fragrant Color" icon. Initially, the difference between them was that the Mother of God held a branch with flowers in different hands. In modern icon painting, this has ceased to play any role. That is why images previously perceived as different are now treated as one and the same.
The Fragrant Color icon, like its prototype, belongs to the Hodegetria iconographic type. This is a clear canon for writing the Virgin, different from all other types. It has its own characteristics and rules for depicting an image. For example, this canon is fundamentally different from the so-called Rublev stylewriting saints.
Christians believe that the icon of the Mother of God "Fragrant color" helps believers in dangerous and difficult life situations. Therefore, it is especially revered, along with the image of Christ the Savior and the Holy Trinity.
History
The appearance of this holy image dates back to about the 17th century. To date, the place of appearance is debatable, as there are two versions.
According to one of them, it is believed that this image first appeared on the Greek island of Athos, which, as you know, is very important for Christians. The version of the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God “Fragrant Color” is supported here by the fact that this place is considered the earthly Lot of the Virgin.
Another version says that this icon appeared in Constantinople, in the Slavic culture called Tsargrad.
In Christian literature, the mention of the icon appears around the same time. For the first time, they write about her in Byzantine akathists. In them, the images of the Mother of God and Jesus are identified with fragrant flowers that do not fade.
Artistic elements that persist today were formed under the influence of Western icon painting traditions.
Description
"Fragrant color" - an icon with the Mother of God, which has several options. This is very characteristic of the images that appeared in the late era of iconography. What unites all the icons is that they always have a branch with flowers. Moreover, Jesus can be both in the left andand in the right hand of the Virgin. As, respectively, and a flower branch.
The background and edges of the icon are painted with various patterns and elements. Most often these are floral decorations, but there are also so-called geometric backgrounds. Sometimes you can see inscriptions on the icons - both lengthy and consisting only of the name of the icon itself. They are made in Old Church Slavonic or in Latin. For example, “Our Lady and Jesus Christ.”
One more feature: on the “Fragrant Color” icons, the Mother of God and Christ are depicted in royal clothes, and their heads are crowned with halos. Usually the Mother of God was painted waist-deep, but there are images where she sits on a throne with Jesus on one hand and a branch of flowers in the other, and with her head uncovered. This speaks of various traditions of icon painting, each of which has its own canons and manners of writing holy faces.
First Image
The earliest depiction of the Fragrant Color image is given by historian D. Dallas. He refers to an engraving he found in the Bible "The New Treasury". The folio was issued by the Venetian press masters in 1612. Among the text in Latin there is an image of the Mother of God with little Jesus.
The Mother of God in this engraving stands on a turned crescent. She holds Jesus in her arms, and roses grow from Christ's halo. It is this image that is considered one of the first documented.
This engraving and lists from it are called "Rosencrantz Madonna". They are very common in the Western Catholic tradition. Earlythe icons are quite close to the original. Later ones already have many differences both in the image of additional elements and in the style of writing images.
How does the Fragrant Color icon help?
Orthodox Christians believe that this Mother of God helps in difficult life situations. The Fragrant Color icon itself encourages bright and pure deeds, while protecting the needy from stumbling and sinning.
Before the image, believers pray, asking to guide on the true path and help in gaining strength. It is believed that the icon protects the family from adversity and quarrels, enemies and any evil. Those who pray before this face gain strength to overcome difficulties, faith in their abilities.
There is also a legend that the “Fragrant Color” icon helps with physical ailments, as well as in resolving various he alth problems.
Artistic image
The “Fragrant Color” icon, surprisingly, is not as common in Orthodox churches as, for example, Kazan or Vladimir. However, it has a special meaning for believers. It is believed that this image helps women and is a talisman for pregnant women.
From an artistic point of view, this is certainly one of the masterpieces of icon painting, which gave rise to a number of areas. It can be unequivocally argued that "Fragrant Color" refers to unusual icon-painting images - both visual andplot. Interpretations of the image are somewhat different in different Christian denominations. But they all agree that the image of the Mother of God carries purity, purity of thoughts and spiritual light.
