Eastern Christian Tag

[Apotheoun]

Help choose the color of the cross on the new Eastern Christian group tag:

[img]http://sites.google.com/site/thetaboriclight/metamorphosis/ec_cross-red.png[/img]

[img]http://sites.google.com/site/thetaboriclight/metamorphosis/ec_cross-green.png[/img]

[img]http://sites.google.com/site/thetaboriclight/metamorphosis/ec_cross-blue.png[/img]

[dominicansoul]

red... to symbolize blood

[Resurrexi]

Null vote.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Apotheoun' timestamp='1281975046' post='2158197']
Help choose the color of the cross on the new Eastern Christian group tag:

[img]http://sites.google.com/site/thetaboriclight/metamorphosis/ec_cross-red.png[/img]

[img]http://sites.google.com/site/thetaboriclight/metamorphosis/ec_cross-green.png[/img]

[img]http://sites.google.com/site/thetaboriclight/metamorphosis/ec_cross-blue.png[/img]
[/quote]
While blue is my favourite colour, I think the red works better for that tag.

[Seven77]

the color dUSt confirms....[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/detective.gif[/img]

i hope it's red.

[MIKolbe]

Blue for the Blessed and Holy Theotokos

[jeffpugh]

A lot of Icons use Red for her, too.

[MIKolbe]

She likes blue better.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Sacred Music Man' timestamp='1281980629' post='2158241']
A lot of Icons use Red for her, too.
[/quote]
Red does seem to be a prominent colour in iconography.
[img]http://www.holydormition.com/HolyDormition/images/245_0035164152_Vladimir,-the-Holy-Prince-.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.schgochurch.org/images/icon-JOHNCHRY.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.comeandseeicons.com/g/pdl02.jpg[/img]
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wUI6qYkH1wk/SagDsXf-qVI/AAAAAAAAAcc/jWgrFKMgLZM/s400/St+Cyril+Apostle+to+the+Slavss.jpg[/img]

[Resurrexi]

In Western iconography, it seems that our Lady is often depicted with a red inner garment and a blue outer garment.

[img]http://www.op.org.au/voc/San_Marco_Altarpiece.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.metrodemontreal.com/green/assomption/assumption-titian.jpg[/img]

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ecnviVdaKhM/SY8GgVLB-oI/AAAAAAAACGs/x21P7ZCbFNw/S1600-R/1415.jpg[/img]

[Nihil Obstat]

"Red is used in icons to represent humanity and the saving nature of the resurrection. It is the color of blood and thereby signifies life on earth. Blue signifies the heavens and the kingdom of God not on this earth. Byzantine icons of the Theotokos show her with red outer garments and blue ones on the inside. This signifies her original human nature by the red and her heavenly nature by the blue. Icons of Christ will show him with Blue outer clothing and red inner clothing. Signifying his Heavenly origins and earthly existence as being secondary."
[url="http://www.troparia.com/icons.htm"]http://www.troparia.com/icons.htm[/url]

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1281981227' post='2158259']
Byzantine icons of the Theotokos show her with red outer garments and blue ones on the inside.
[/quote]

This does not seem to be universally true.

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a6raVa-peSs/R6zlrATJa_I/AAAAAAAAAPs/RdxuWn0lDlk/S1600-R/Theotokos%2Bof%2BVladimir.jpg[/img]

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Resurrexi' timestamp='1281981402' post='2158266']
This does not seem to be universally true.

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a6raVa-peSs/R6zlrATJa_I/AAAAAAAAAPs/RdxuWn0lDlk/S1600-R/Theotokos%2Bof%2BVladimir.jpg[/img]
[/quote]
You're right.
That appears to be a rather different style of icon. I don't know as much as I would like about Eastern Iconography.

[dominicansoul]

maybe it was once red, but over time took on a yellowish sunshiny glow?

[Apotheoun]

Many colors can be used when depicting the Theotokos in an icon, but - as Nihil pointed out - according to Byzantine tradition when red and blue are used for her garments the inner layer should be blue and her outer layer should be red. Can examples be found that break with tradition? Sure, but that does not alter the canonical tradition.