Icon of St Paul
The Icon of St. Paul currently touring the Diocese of Westminster was painted around 8 years ago by a monk residing at Mount Athos, Greece.
It was painted in the traditional style, with each brush stroke considered and prayed over. During the painting of the Icon the monk would have undertaken fasting and regular prayer. Two embellished copies were made of this icon and are in the Dioceses of Birmingham and Leeds (this is the original).
The meaning of its colours:
1. The brilliance of gold in the background makes it possible to feel the radiant light of God and the splendor of the celestial kingdom where there is never any night. Gold symbolises the divine nature of God himself.
2. Red is one of the most frequently used colours in icons. This is the color of heat, passion, love, life and life- giving energy, and for this very reason red became the symbol of the resurrection - the victory of life over death. But at the same time it is the colour of blood and torments, and the colour of Christ’s sacrifice. Martyrs are depicted in red clothing on icons (see the cloth draped over St. Paul’s right shoulder and the colour of the book he is holding).
3. Dark-blue and blue indicate the infiniteness of the sky and is the symbol of another everlasting world. The colour of the robes could also be said to be purple, the colour of the celestial King whom St. Paul served without ceasing.
4. The robes are not meant to be gray, a colour never used in iconography. When mixing black and white together, iniquity and righteousness, it becomes the colour of vagueness, the colour of the void and nonexistence.
Gestures depicted
The position of the fingers is the classic gesture of a bishop while blessing his congregation.