This icon is the second part of a diptych installed in the Chapel at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and was written to commemorate the Election, Consecration and Enthronement of Bishop Johncy Itty as the Ninth Bishop of Oregon. Its counterpart is the icon of The Pantokrator or Christ Enthroned.
The term “Hodegetria” is Greek and translates to “One who Shows the Way”. The Virgin is shown presenting Christ to the viewer and Mary’s fingers, unnaturally elongated, point to Christ as “The Way”. Although the Virgin is the largest subject, the principal person in the icon is, of course, Christ who is shown as a miniature adult philosopher. It is typical that the Virgin is never shown in any icon without Christ also being present. She is only revered as the “Theotokos”, the One who Bore God.
The earliest prototype version of the Hodegetria icon dates from around the mid-6th Century, C.E. However, the one used here is that from the Mt. Athos Monastery in Greece dating from 1629 C.E.
The Virgin is shown enthroned and as usual, dressed as an Empress in the Byzantine Court. On each side of Christ’s head are the Greek letters “IC- XC” – these are the customary abbreviations of the Greek words for “Jesus Christ”. On the arms of the Cross in Christ’s nimbus are Greek characters, in abbreviation of “I am who I am” (Ex. 3:14). On each side of the head of the Virgin, are the Greek characters that, in abbreviation, denote “Holy Mary” and “Mother of God”.
