Crucifix. The Icon of the Mother of God “The Live-Bearing Spring 101.249

On the cross obverse we see Crucifixion amid higher angels – fire seraphs – who embrace Him with their wings. Seraph images are put into the item basic shape resembling lily bud. Lilies are symbolic flowers specially spoken in the Gospel. Jesus Christ points at their beauty and says that when admiring them one should think of God, His paternal love and give thanks for the care He lavishes upon His creature. Lilies are worldly beauty that gives you a promise of meeting the beauty of Divine world where God dwells in eternity among angels of Light.

On the cross reverse there is put the icon of the Mother of God “The Live-Bearing Spring” worshipped in Russia as a patroness of mothers and those women who long for motherhood. On the icon the Mother of God with the child Jesus are shown in a symbolical bowl resembling a eucharistic chalice wherefrom stream waters flow. Chalice is a bowl wherefrom during the Divine Liturgy church people receive communion of the Divine Body and Blood in the likeness of bread and wine – “for the remission of sins and unto life everlasting”. The Divine Body and Blood on the icon are really put into the bowl, however it is not wine that flows from the bowl but water. In the Gospel water symbolizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit; the Divine grace given by the Holy Spirit. The Divine grace is necessary for human beings, since according to the Orthodox Church doctrine it means Deity wealth pouring out to earth; water of life that “springing up into life everlasting” (John 4. 10, 13-14). In the Gospel desire for receiving the grace is compared to thirst, to human regular water requirement. On the icon “The Live-Bearing Spring” the Most Holy Mother of God appears as endued with the grace plenitude, with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and abundantly plying with them all the thirsty.

On all sides the icon of the Mother of God is surrounded by saints, human assistants in every need. These are St. Xenia of St.-Petersburg, St. Matrona of Moscow, and St. Parasceva, Venerable-M. These saints are worshipped for their particular familiarity with common people needs, for help in family life raising. These saints help to find a worthy spouse, to give birth to healthy children; to bring them up in love to God and to protect them in diseases and temptations. Images put on the cross are blessed by the Guardian Angel. That is the angel got by everyone just after christening. From that moment forth he tails after his charge protecting him/her against the works of the evil spirits. But the angel is not able to act without the person’s desire, since human beings are given the free will inviolable even by God Himself. Therefore the Orthodox Church reminds the believers that they should invocate their angels and pray for assistance.