Posted on 11/30/2009 9:45:21 AM PST by NYer
Reported by Interfax of Russia in Moscow On November 25, an unusual sacred procession took place when the Virgin Mary Icon known as the "Sign" (see below) flew around the Earth 176 times.
The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign (Greek: Panagia or Παναγία; Old Church Slavonic: Ikona Bozhey Materi "Znamenie"; Polish: Ikona Bogurodzicy "Znak" ') is the term for a particular type of icon of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), facing the viewer directly, depicted either full length or half, with her hands raised in the orans position, and with the image of the Child Jesus depicted within a round aureole upon her breast.[1]
The icon depicts the Theotokos during the Annunciation at the moment of saying, "May it be done to me according to your word."(Luke 1:38). The image of the Christ child represents him at the moment of his conception in the womb of the Virgin. He is depicted not as a fetus, but rather vested in divine robes, and often holding a scroll, symbolic of his role as teacher. Sometimes his robes are gold or white, symbolizing divine glory; sometimes they are blue and red, symbolizing the two natures of Christ (see Christology). His face is depicted as that of an old man, indicating the Christian teaching that he was at one and the same time both a fully-human infant and fully the eternal God, one of the Trinity. His right hand is raised in blessing.
The term Virgin of the Sign or Our Lady of the Sign is a reference to the prophecy of 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 Immanuel". Such an image is often placed in the apse of thesanctuary of an Orthodox church above the Holy Table (altar).[2]
As with most Orthodox icons of Mary, the letters ΜΡ ΘΥ (short for ΜΗΤΗΡ ΘΕΟΥ, "Mother of God") are usually placed on the upper left and right of the head of the Virgin Mary.
This type of icon is also sometimes called Platytera (Greek: Πλατυτέρα, literally wider or more spacious); poetically, by containing the Creatorof the Universe in her womb, Mary has become Platytera ton ouranon (Πλατυτέρα των Ουρανών): "More spacious than the heavens".
Ping!
I admit I didn’t read the whole thing, but is there supposed to be some significance to the number 176?
I do not believe that it has any numerological or symbolic meaning.
Don’t know about the 176,,but for me the most significant part was that the Russians OPENLY, with no apology,, did a religious thing in space.
Had that been an American NASA shuttle, such an act done deliberately, would have launched congressional investigations, ended careers, sparked lawsuits, and been deemed illegal. Glad we are the “free” ones,,, We need to take this country back.
good story
Is Zero pissed?
176 words:
The Magnificat of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
The Canticle of Mary
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Beautiful, thanks!
A little frightening Russia and the US have changed viewpoints regarding faith. Atheistic Russia and religious America have become reversed.
Catholicism, 1; Communism, 0.
Mary with her blue rays standing on a shuttle photo alert!
An amazing story!
The first three words of your tagline are quite significant.
Yes they are my politically correct friend.
Very honest of you (accept for the “politically-correct friend” part).
Sorry, but personally I do not accept the politically correct part despite your best efforts to encourage me to become politically correct like yourself.
Mirabile dictu, eh?
I think, perhaps, that the Russian Orthodox might take issue with that statement.
It's your OWN admission. You have the demonstrable wisdom to admit you are a bigot, but then claim you don't accept your own admission. Bizarre.
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