THE THREE-HANDED MARY
One of the most respected icons in the EO world is Богородица Тројеручица, or the Three-handed Theotokos (meaning Godbearer, referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus). Back when I was ЕО and living in Serbia, I remember being aboslutely thrilled when that icon was brought to my hometown and was temporarily displayed at my local church. I took interest, and read the story of how and why the third hand was added to that icon.
It is said that the icon was painted by or for St. John Damascene and it is associated with his miraculous healing. St. John’s hand was cut off (the details on how and by whom differ in different versions), but upon praying in front of this icon it was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving, he had a silver replica of his hand fashioned and attached it to the icon. The icon was nicknamed "Three-handed" (Tricherousa, or Тројеручица).
At this time, I do not comment on this story. What I do find interesting, however, is the following: since the icon was so famous in the Middle Ages, there were numerous copies of it made, even by those who have never seen the icon, but have only heard of it. The icon’s fame spread into the far away Russia, but a little case of the game of telephone took place in the process. The Russian icon painters apparently understood that Mary herself was literally three-handed, so they depicted her as such, making her look like some goddess out of Indian mythology, or someone who would fit the cast of the movie ''X-Men''. They might have even thought that her three-handedness is somehow symbolic of the Trinitarian nature of God, but that's just me speculating. At any rate, the picture is painted and consecrated, thus becoming an icon.
The issue now is that tricky EO clause that once an icon becomes consecrated it becomes a representation of reality. Therefore, this outlandish depiction became legitimate, and is given the respect all other icons get.
It is said that the icon was painted by or for St. John Damascene and it is associated with his miraculous healing. St. John’s hand was cut off (the details on how and by whom differ in different versions), but upon praying in front of this icon it was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving, he had a silver replica of his hand fashioned and attached it to the icon. The icon was nicknamed "Three-handed" (Tricherousa, or Тројеручица).
At this time, I do not comment on this story. What I do find interesting, however, is the following: since the icon was so famous in the Middle Ages, there were numerous copies of it made, even by those who have never seen the icon, but have only heard of it. The icon’s fame spread into the far away Russia, but a little case of the game of telephone took place in the process. The Russian icon painters apparently understood that Mary herself was literally three-handed, so they depicted her as such, making her look like some goddess out of Indian mythology, or someone who would fit the cast of the movie ''X-Men''. They might have even thought that her three-handedness is somehow symbolic of the Trinitarian nature of God, but that's just me speculating. At any rate, the picture is painted and consecrated, thus becoming an icon.
The issue now is that tricky EO clause that once an icon becomes consecrated it becomes a representation of reality. Therefore, this outlandish depiction became legitimate, and is given the respect all other icons get.
Let's check out some fascinating Eastern Orthodox saints.
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