Triptych with Christ, Theotokos and Symeon the Stylite
Oil on Wood Panel
9.5" x 12.5"

Welcome back everyone! It appears I got swept away into an extended summer vocation away from blogging. Few personal obligations kept me preoccupied, but now I am back and planning to resume regular posting. And first thing on my agenda is to share a recent icon commission. It is a triptych, with Christ shown on the middle panel, on His right is the figure of Theotokos as taken from the icon "Joy of All That Sorrow", and on the left - St. Symeone Stylite.

Joy of all That Sorrow:
"Joy to all the sorrow art thou, and of the oppressed protectress, and nurture of all the poor, comfort unto the estranged, a staff thou art of the blind, visitation of all the sick, a shelter and succor unto those brought down by pain, helper of orphaned ones." (Troparion to the Virgin)

Theotokos is depicted as the most beautiful blossom of heaven, standing among the flowers of paradise. She stands as our mother in unceasing intercession for us before Christ, the King of Heaven and Earth. We can call her the Joy of All Who Sorrow because she brings hope and salvation into the world.

St. Symeon Stylite:
"Thou soughtest the heights, though parted not from things below; thy pillar became a chariot of fire for thee. Thou becamest thereby a true companion of the angelic host;band together with them, O Saint, thou ceaselessly prayest Christ God for us all." (Kontakion, Tone 2)

Stylitism is one of the most extreme and original forms of Eastern Christian asceticism. The pillars usually were ten to twenty meters high, and were equipped with a balcony, parapet, and roofing. St. Symeon's pillar stood at Qal'at Sim'an, near Antioch, in Syria.

Symeon was born to a shepherd's family in the Cappadocian village of Sisan in Syria. When he was a youth, he was deeply moved after hearing the Beatitudes, and decided to join a monastery. He, however, did not remain for long at the monastery. After a short while he settled into a stony cave, situated not far from the village of Galanissa, and he dwelt there for three years, all the while perfecting himself in monastic feats. Crowds came to him to receive healing and to learn more about the Christian faith, but to avoid them, Symeon went up to a pillar and began to live there in a little cell. Still devoted to prayer and fasting, he sat or stood in prayer for many weeks at a time. Simeon devoted himself to prayer, but also gave exhortations twice daily to those who gathered around the pillar to hear him. From atop he performed many miracles and his words won the conversion of many people, especially among Arabs. Simeon would urge his listeners to pray for the salvation of souls. St. Symeon is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on September 1st.