The Trinity, Andrei Rublev, 1411-1427. Old Katholikon of the Trinity Lavra, Sergiyev Posad, Russia.
Questions
-What do I like about this icon? What do I not like about it?
-Why do you think it is so grainy and imperfect?
-Who are these three people in this icon?
Reflection
This icon is at the heart of our home chapel and is a beloved art piece that we own. While our icon is newly painted and with bright colors, this icon of the trinity is worn and old. But what is in surprisingly good condition are their faces, hands and feet. I think that this is quite powerful - the face, hands and feet of the Lord are never failing, never fading, and never changing. God will always be consistent in our lives, even if we cannot see or feel that consistency. The face of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are so gentle as they gaze at each other in love and relationship. I imagine them often sitting in heaven, taking such joy and satisfaction in their love and relationship and creation. They gaze at us the same way because they created us in love and for love. They gaze with a deep yearning for continuous relationship with us specifically. They desire for us to be their hands and feet on this earth that they created for us. For you. A personal belief when seeing this icon, over 600 years old, is that their hands and feet are pristine because their work is still being done on this earth. We are caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, making God's love known and experienced in the world. At the table in the icon they are serving one another and we are meant to do the same. We are a part of the Body of Christ and therefore must care for one another as it were ourselves.
"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:13
They are three in one. It is confusing to think of them as three different but equally confusing as thinking of them as one. This icon highlights their separation by having three beings but their oneness because they look the same. In my experience, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit look and feel different as I relate to them differently. But looking at this icon, I am reminded that they are one and I am just looking at them in different ways and from different angles. The thought of heaven comes to my mind, that every single person is praising and worshipping God but they all experience Him in a unique way that strengthens, widens, and deepens everyone else's worship and understanding of God. There is no lack in how anyone worships or understands, there can only be an increasing. There is only an increase in how we are in relationship with the Trinity.
They have such reverence for one another. This icon is based on an earlier icon called 'The Hospitality of Abraham' which is from Genesis chapter 18. The Lord stopped by Abraham's tent in Mamre, appearing as three men. Abraham immediately asks them to stay and offers them refreshment. His visitors stay and tell him and his wife Sarah that Sarah will have a son. This is a miraculous sharing, as Abraham and Sarah were both in old age by this time. The original icon and other depictions include Sarah and Abraham, Rublev chooses to only show the Trinity. It is in this bible passage that we get this beautiful verse:
"Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?" - Genesis 18:14
In diving deeper into this icon and reading this scripture passage, this verse really called me on. Rather than just Rublev showing the whole story in this icon, he shows instead a powerful reality that is the relationship of the trinity. Abraham only addresses them as a singular entity, though they are described as three men. It is wonderfully marvelous that God three in one. There is beautiful mystery in what the Lord does in our lives each and every day. There is nothing that is too marvelous for the Lord to pour out upon us, but we will not realize it if we do not set our gaze on the Lord. It is in relationship with God that we can see His influence and presence in our lives.
Information
Andrei Rublev lived in the later 14th and early 15th century in Russia. He is considered one of the greatest Russian painters of icons and frescoes. There is very little known about his life, especially his early childhood. It is most likely that he grew up outside of Moscow, which at the time that he would have been born was a very dangerous place and time to be. The first mention of Andrei was in 1405 when he was writing icons and painting frescos at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow, along with a great master artist and mentor Theophanes the Greek. After training with Theophanes, he went on to decorate several other churches and monasteries. The only work that is attributed solely to him is his icon of the Trinity. This work was not seen as important until the icon itself was cleaned in 1904, where his reputation quickly grew and the church started to see his greatness as an artist. The Russian Orthodox Church named Rublev a saint in 1988, the first Russian painter to be canonized. While the Orthodox are not in communion with the Catholic Church, the recognition of the importance of art and the movement of God within artists is so important. I am reminded of Blessed Fra Angelico or St. Catherine of Bologna, great artists who desired to show God's truth, goodness, and beauty to the world.
In the background of this icon you can see the house of Abraham and Sarah as well as Mount Moriah. This helps to ground the icon in the fact that is a different take on the earlier icon 'The Hospitality of Abraham'. This simplified scene has them seated in a circle, creating a unity in their position but also open to our view. We are welcomed into their unity and conversation with them. There has always been some disagreement about who is who in this icon. The three men are depicted as angels in this icon, as Abraham and Sarah thought that the guests could have been messengers of God. But, it is actually believed to be the Trinity themselves that visited Abraham and Sarah to announce the good news of the continuation of the Kingdom of Israel. I think that going from left to write it is the Father, the Son and then the Holy Spirit. The Father has on blue clothing underneath a shimmering, transparent robe. The Son is seated in the middle with the blue robes on the outside with a reddish robe underneath. The Holy Spirit has a blue robe underneath with a pale green robe overtop. Their blue robes I think shows a connection of their shared divinity but the other colors remind us of their different roles in our lives. The Father rules in heaven, glittering with the heavenly glory that He exudes. The Son has this reddish robe of the blood that He has as fully human and also reminding us of the blood He poured for us. The Holy Spirit has green, a reminder of life and regeneration which He brings to all of creation as He proceeds from the Father and Son. They also are holding staffs which symbolize their authority. Little do Sarah and Abraham know that the authority these men have are over all of creation, heaven and earth.
The Father has His hand extended out in blessing towards to the Holy Spirit to send Him out. I am reminded of the end of mass, where the priest blesses us all and sends us forth into the world to do the Lord's work. It is rightful that the Holy Spirit is bowing His head in honor of the Lord and acceptance of His task to bring the love of God to the whole world. The Son's hand is in a symbol of blessing but reaching towards the chalice that is on the table. There is something within the chalice, I think reminding us all of the blessing that He has given us in His death and institution of the Eucharist. Them being around a table gives us the imagery of it being an altar. The Trinity is present at every mass, in every sacrifice, in every Eucharistic offering. The chalice is at the edge of the table, inviting us to partake in its mystery and glory. The Holy Spirit's hand is always reaching towards the chalice, as we call upon Him to change our offering of bread and wine into Christ's body, blood, soul and divinity.
More Questions
-How am I being called to serve those around me today?
-What is my relationship like with each the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? How am I being called to an increase in relationship with them individually?
-Am I aware of the Trinity being present during mass?
-Do I allow myself to be in awe and wonder that Jesus is made present body, blood, soul and divinity at every mass?
Let us pray -
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bring us further into the mystery of your Trinity. Your three in oneness is a wonder to behold, to ponder, and to glorify. Allow me to experience your love in an even greater way. Where I do not understand, help me to give over my control and confusion. Where I struggle to believe, help me to have faith and hope in your promises. May I partake in the mystery of the Eucharist and be reminded of your unique love for me. Thank you for being present in my life as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I want to get to know you more deeply and love you more purely.
Amen.
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