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» Icons and Holy Cards » Passion & Resurrection Icons

The Holy Women at the Tomb

Icon Reproduction

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Item Number Description Price Each Quantity Total Action
MCM021 4" X 6" ICON MATTED TO 8" X 10"

$10.49


No more than 2 are available.

$10.49
ICM021 4" X 6" ICON ON WOOD

$15.99


$15.99
ICM121 6" X 10" ICON ON WOOD

$26.99


$26.99
ICM221 8" X 13" ICON ON WOOD

$37.99


$37.99
ICM321 10" X 16" ICON ON WOOD

$54.99


$54.99

Item Details:

In this icon, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome arrive at the tomb, carrying spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They encounter an angel who tells them to be unafraid, Jesus is risen. This icon, whose design dates from third century, is a beautiful reminder of the Easter miracle. It is also known as the “Myrrh bearers.”

Wood-mounted icons are on 5/8" ProWood® Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) with a wood-look foil finish, with tee-slots milled in the back for easy hanging. Icons are finished in classic cherry to replicate the traditional icon red, in keeping with Byzantine tradition. (Ancient icon board edges were frequently coated with red bole, a form of clay). Each mounted icon comes with a descriptive pamphlet explaining the symbolism and history of the image.

Please allow 5-10 business days for orders of 20 or more icons.

Our icon designs are also available as unmounted prints in sanctuary-size enlargements up to 38 inches wide. The latest technology enables enlargement without sacrificing quality. We do not currently have the ability to mount these prints on wood or any other material. You may purchase your own frame from a custom frame shop. Call 800-889-0105 for pricing and ordering.

Image Origins

Near the end of Mark’s Gospel in Chapter 16 we find the account of the discovery of Christ’s resurrection. Three women, named as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (the Less) and Joses, and Salome (presumably identified in Matthew 27:55 as the mother of James the Greater and John) arrive at the tomb at sunrise on the first day of the week, carrying spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They find the stone rolled back, the tomb empty, and a young man dressed in white who tells them to be unafraid, Jesus is risen. This ancient icon of the Gospel story dates from the third century and is named in Greek the myrophorai or Myrrhbearers, myrrh being the principle spice used to anoint the dead in biblical times. Our version is a twentieth century writing by Sister Marie-Paul that closely follows the traditional outline.

Theology and Symbolism

The tomb is drawn in inverse perspective, parts close up appearing smaller than those further away. This visual device is common in icons as a way to draw the viewer into the scene. The linen cloth that wrapped Jesus’ body lies before us in mute but eloquent evidence of the resurrection miracle. The angel sits upon the rolled-back stone that served as the door of the sepulchre. The Greek writing at the top of the icon can be translated as "the myrrh bearers," or "the anointing ones."

The angel and only one of the three women have their heads surrounded by golden halos. These symbols of sanctity are reserved in icons for those persons known to be saints, officially named as such by the church. Angels as messengers from God are all sanctified, and of the three women, only Saint Mary Magdalene is so named. The only other identifying feature among the three women is Mary Magdalene’s barely visible long, curly hair, traditionally included to represent her beauty. As in most traditional icons, all the faces look very similar. Their eyes are large and soulful, noses long and straight in conformity with Byzantine notions of nobility, and mouths small and closed indicating spiritual contemplation. The angel’s head is uncovered, but is otherwise represented as gender-neutral.

The miracle of the empty tomb is depicted for us in a simple, graceful composition, full of flowing lines and sharp contrasts. We see a scene of solemn contemplation of this mystery which is beyond human understanding. There were no human witnesses to the resurrection itself, but the angel has rolled back the stone to show us proof of the event. The icon background is gold leaf used in iconography to symbolize divine "uncreated" light. The metal is used in this way because of its value, permanence, and ability to reflect light in a manner so different from pigment. The fanciful mountains are not intended to show realistically the surroundings of the tomb but instead represent the spiritual ascent we all make through faith as we come to believe in the significance of the empty tomb.


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