Hodegitria. Mary is also referred to as Sophia meaning wisdom and her serene gaze appears to pull us into the solitude from where wisdom is born. Christ floats in her arms, her tender light embrace is all that is required to assure him. They do not seem to be in a relationship, they are separate and active in what each of them understands and contemplates. The Christ Child sits on his mother’s Left arm holding a scroll (symbol of the fulfillment of the scriptures) and blessing with His right hand. Both Christ’s gold tunic and clovis, (royal sash), are symbols of his imperial lineage. Mary, the mother of God, the Theotokos, is upright, straight, and full of majestic detachment. She has no expression of intimacy with the Christ child: she looks directly at us. She sits as if enthroned and presents to us the Christ as a multifaceted young man: king, teacher, guide, master, healer, priest, Rabbi, friend, etc. Women in Icons | Mary Jane Miller#iconography, #iconpainting, #contemporaryiconography
