Palm Sunday Icon

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HAPPY PALM SUNDAY

Understanding the Palm Sunday Icon

Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)

The icon for Palm Sunday is known as “Christ’s Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem” and recounts an event found in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19).  This icon is intended to depict the exultant welcome the Son of God received as He entered into His city and His kingdom.  The arrival of the Messiah on the back of a colt (or donkey) would have been bewildering to the Jews because 1) they expected a military Messiah to free them from Roman occupation and 2) they expected the Messiah to come only for them and not the gentiles.  The donkey symbolizes an animal of peace and a colt is representative of the gentiles – so either animal would have been confusing to the Jews of Jerusalem.  A king entering a city on a horse meant war; a king arriving on a donkey meant peace.

The Icon’s Geometry

The underlying geometry of this icon creates movement that subconsciously directs our attention to the focal point – heavenly Jerusalem.  The mountain and city walls serve as a geometric funnel directly to the city of Jerusalem.  Even the palm in background is angled in the direction of the city as is the lowered head of the colt/donkey.  Every line points to heavenly Jerusalem.

The Language of Symbolism

Buildings – In iconography, buildings often represent the Church.  In this 15th century icon painted by the Novgorod school, the city of Jerusalem anachronistically depicts a temple with a cross on top, making this reference to the founding of the Church very clear.

Scroll – the scroll in Jesus’ left hand indicates He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. A scroll in the hand tells the viewer that this person has authority and wisdom. It is also a reference to Revelation 5:5 as “the one who is worthy to open the scroll.”

Cruciform Halo – If you look closely, Christ’s halo contains a cross, which denotes His glorification. No halos of saints or angels contain the Cross of Salvation. Only three arms of the cross are visible, making up a Holy Trinity. These Greek letters are written in the three arms of the cross: ώ Ό Ν (omega, omicron, nu) mean “the being” or more precisely “He who is.” This reference to Christ’s divinity is found in the Old Testament when God in the burning bush revealed himself to Moses as “He who is” or “I am.” (Ex. 3:14 – in the Septuagint text this is ἐγώ εἰμί ὁ ὢν: “I am He Who is” or “I am”).

Inscription – Above Christ’s head are the letters “IC” and “XC”, the four-letter abbreviation of the Greek words for Jesus (IHCOYC) Christ (XPICTOC).

Christ Looking Back – Jesus is the bridge between the disciples and the heavenly Jerusalem.  In some icons, he looks back at his disciples and followers as though to encourage them to persevere through this difficult phase.  In other icons, He looks forward toward His glory as he leads his Apostles.  Typically, the two most visible disciples behind Christ are Peter and John who are the pillars of the church.  Behind them, the Apostles may sometimes look a little confused and fearful because they don’t understand why Christ is returning to a place of danger where Jewish authorities were planning his murder.

Children – Child’s play conveys a visual reminder of Christ’s words, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of heaven like a little child will never inherit it.”  Children are shown climbing the palm tree, and sometimes laying branches down or their outer tunics before the Messiah.  Laying garments beneath someone’s feet is a symbol of total surrender.  By removing their outer garments, the children expose their white tunics, which like baptismal gowns, represent purity and innocence. Sometimes a child is shown pulling a thorn from the foot of another child who acquired it by climbing a palm tree, demonstrating that spiritual ascent can be painful or difficult.

https://classicaliconography.org/understanding-the-palm-sunday-icon/

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Palm Sunday, Giotto 1303-1305
Arena Chapel, Padova

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Christ Entering Jerusalem, Giotto 1303-1305
Scrovegni Chapel, Padova

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