ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ
OUR MAIN IMAGE: Icon painting by Michael Astrapas in a church in Ohrid, North Macedonia. The twelve Apostles appear to arrive on clouds, surrounding the composition. 13th century.
When the Mother Who Carried Christ Is Carried by Him
By Nick Stamatakis
It is customary for me to attend the service of the Vespers of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the Church of Panagia of Island Park, here on Long Island, a humble Church that has flourished under the leadership of Fr. George Kazoulis, an exceptional priest with an even more exceptional presvytera and a wonderful family. Last night, the sermon was given by Fr. Nikiforos Fakinos, who truly caught everyone’s attention and mine with his emphasis on a special aspect of the celebration: Hagiographies of the Dormition / “Metastasis” picture Christ “holding” Theotokos on her ascent to Heaven, reversing the usual image of the “Theotokos” holding “Infant Jesus” in her arms…
Mary’s body rests peacefully on the funeral bier, surrounded by the Apostles, hierarchs, and mourners. Behind her stands Christ in glory, holding a tiny, swaddled figure representing his mother’s soul.
This is the image’s most powerful inversion.
Throughout Christian art, Mary holds the infant Christ. Here, at the end of her earthly life, Christ holds Mary.
The Mother who once received him into the world is now received by him. The one who carried Christ is now carried by Christ.
Above, some icons extend the scene into the Μετάστασις — the translation of the Theotokos into heavenly glory. Mary appears alive and glorified, borne upward by angels. In later compositions, the Apostle Thomas may also appear receiving her Holy Girdle, traditionally understood as a sign of her bodily translation.
The entire image is therefore built upon a movement from earth to heaven: below, mourning and the stillness of death; above, glory and life.
It expresses the characteristic Orthodox χαρμολύπη — joyful sorrow: grief at separation, but joy in the conviction that death has been overcome.
And at the visual center stands the great reversal of the familiar Madonna and Child:
Mary once held Christ in her arms.
At her Dormition, Christ holds Mary in his.
August 15, 2026, www.helleniscope.com n.stamatakis@aol.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
As I get older, I find myself enjoying this feast and its wonderful iconography.