Orthodox Christians have already begun preparations for one of the biggest holidays - the Trinity. This year it falls on June 23rd. The celebration of the Holy Trinity mixed pagan and Orthodox traditions. Believers on Sunday morning must go to church with bouquets of fragrant herbs, thin birch and apple twigs. They are sprinkled with holy water by a priest dressed in green robes. The floor in the temple and in the houses is covered with cut grass and flowers. Parishioners near the icon of the Holy Trinity. At the same time, many pay attention to the fact that this icon may look different. So, in one case, the icon depicts the Holy Trinity in the form of three angels. In another case, God the Father has the appearance of an old man, next to him is Jesus Christ, but the Holy Spirit is depicted in the form of a dove. What are these differences related to?

Trinity Old Testament

The icon, where the Holy Trinity is three angels, is called the Old Testament. This image is based on the biblical story.

- Back in the times of the Old Testament, there was such a patriarch Abraham, who had the appearance of three angels. It was the appearance of the Trinity, - three angels appeared to him, who announced to him: his wife Sarah would give birth to a great offspring, although they were already quite old people. And when this was fulfilled, Abraham realized that God had appeared to him. And since that time, the canonical image is recognized by the Holy Church in the form of three angels.

The Old Testament "Holy Trinity" is depicted as three angels sitting under a tree. On the table in front of them is a treat offered by Abraham, who stands nearby. Sarah is either right there, together with Abraham, standing before the Holy Trinity, or in a tent. On the icon, painted by Andrei Rublev, only three Angels are depicted. They are depicted seated around the throne, in the center of which is placed the Eucharistic chalice with the head of a sacrificial calf. It symbolizes the New Testament lamb, that is, Christ. The meaning of this image is sacrificial love. left angel (God the Father) He blesses the cup with his right hand. Medium angel (Son) depicted in the gospel robes of Jesus Christ. His right hand with a symbolic signet is lowered to the throne. God the Son expresses obedience to the will of God the Father and readiness to sacrifice himself in the name of love for people. Right angel gesture (Holy Spirit) completes the symbolic conversation between the Father and the Son, affirming the lofty meaning of sacrificial love, and consoles the doomed to sacrifice.

New Testament Trinity

Here God the Father depicted as an old man. In the halo above his head are the same letters that are written in the halo of the Savior, meaning "Existing". Although the halo itself may not be round, but triangular. Jesus Christ sits next to God the Father. In the right hand the Savior holds the opened Gospel, in the left - the instrument of Salvation, the Cross. God Holy Spirit depicted as a dove hovering over them. God the Holy Spirit is depicted as a dove, because that is how He revealed Himself at the Baptism of the Savior.

- An icon depicting the Lord of Hosts (one of the biblical names of God the Father), our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, we do not reject. It is also present in our temples,” says Archpriest Alexander Malichenko (Savior Transfiguration Cathedral). - But we will say that this is so that we can understand the Holy Trinity. We know that there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. But seeing the Three Angels of the Saints on the icon, that grandmother who comes to the temple cannot comprehend this. For greater admonition of this grandmother, who is not versed in the dogma of the Trinity, such an icon is depicted that is more understandable for the parishioners.

– They say that it is impossible to depict God the Father, continues the theme Archpriest Roman Viknyansky (Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God), - but each person is depicted in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we depict God the Father in the form of an old man with a gray beard, because the Lord himself appeared to us in the form of a man, the son of the Virgin Mary. That is, if God had some other image, then for sure, in my opinion, the son would appear in some other image, not a man. Even those angels who appeared to people, they always appeared in the form of a person. And nothing else. The church is quite positive about this. And there is no canonical digression in the fact that God the Father is depicted as an aged man.

Fatherland

There are also icons of the Holy Trinity, where God the Father, depicted by the Elder, has Spas-Emmanuel on his knees, that is, the Savior, depicted in infancy or adolescence. Above them, as on the icon of the New Testament Trinity, is the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. This image is called "Fatherland". These two images of the Holy Trinity, strictly speaking, are non-canonical, but are often found in Orthodox churches.

Symbolism of the Trinity

The symbolism and ambiguity of the images of the "Trinity" date back to ancient times. For most peoples, such concepts as a tree, a bowl, a meal, a house (temple), a mountain, a circle, a triangle (pyramid) had a symbolic meaning.

“There are many symbols in our everyday life,” says Archpriest Alexander Malichenko (Spasso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral). - And when people begin to understand all this, to delve into it, they sometimes come to the conclusion that the pyramid has a Masonic significance. No, it's different here. There are ten properties of God that are emphasized in symbols. One of them is a triangle (not a pyramid) - it is a symbol of omniscience and the fact that God is omnipresent. The eye is the all-seeing eye. This is the image of God the Father. That is, God is omnipresent, he sees everything, knows everything.

But in one thing, all the priests are in solidarity: even if you do not understand all these nuances and subtleties, the main thing is to have God in your heart, be sincere in prayer and observe the “golden mean” in everything.

Some differences between canonical and academic writing

– The canonical and academic style of writing icons differ. For example, in the Upper Church of the Transfiguration Cathedral, the icons are painted in the academic style, in the Lower Church - in the canonical style, – clarifies Archpriest Alexander Malichenko (Spasso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral).

Canonical letter:

Non-canonical (academic) writing:

• Pronounced sensuality and emotionality.
• The absence of Jesus Christ or his substitution by an angel.
• Numerous optional details related to earth.
• Perhaps the absence of important symbolic elements.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse our sins, Vladyka, forgive our iniquities, Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake!

Lord have mercy. (Three times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

The history of the holiday

The feast of the Holy Trinity is dedicated to the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. It happened on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ. It was from this moment that the Church of Christ began its existence. We can say that the feast of the Trinity is a kind of birthday of the Church.

And in ancient times, the Slavs celebrated at this time the farewell to spring and the meeting of summer: it was then that a tradition was formed to go to the cemetery and sweep the graves with birch branches in order to propitiate and calm the spirits of dead ancestors. It was believed that on this day the branches of the tree acquire a special healing power.

Herbs consecrated in the church, and to this day it is customary to dry and carefully store until next year. They are used only as a last resort, for example, in the treatment of serious illnesses. Celebrated the feast of the Holy Trinity and in nature. Green tablecloths specially prepared for the holiday were spread on the grass, loaves were decorated with flowers and greenery. The girls started games and fortune-telling: they threw spoons into the birch to find out which of them would marry first, rode boats lavishly decorated with greenery. For divination on the Trinity, it was customary to weave wreaths and throw them into the water. If the wreath sinks - to trouble, spins on the spot - to discord and discord in the family, floats - be good luck, for an imminent wedding. Many of these traditions are disappearing, but even now people go out of town on the day of the Holy Trinity, arrange holidays, and those who are especially enterprising organize costume festivities. Orthodox believers prefer to spend this day in prayer. 2 comments

The dogma of the trinity of God is one of the main ones in Christianity, regardless of denomination, therefore the icon of the Trinity has its own symbolic meaning, an interesting story. In this article we will talk about the history, meaning and meaning of the icon of the Holy Trinity, and how it can help Christians.

Fundamentals of Doctrine

According to Christian doctrine, there can be no exact image of God the Trinity. He is incomprehensible and too great, besides, no one has seen God (according to the biblical statement). Only Christ descended to earth in his own form, and it is impossible to depict the Trinity directly.

However, symbolic images are possible:

• in angelic guise (three Old Testament guests of Abraham);
• festive icon of the Epiphany;
• the descent of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost;
• Transfiguration.

All these images are considered icons of the Holy Trinity, because each case is marked by the appearance of different hypostases. As an exception, it is allowed to depict God the Father as an old man on the icons of the Last Judgment.

The famous icon of Rublev

Another name is "Hospitality of Abraham", since a specific Old Testament story is depicted. The 18th chapter of Genesis tells how the righteous received God Himself, under the guise of three travelers. They symbolize the different personalities of the Trinity.

The complex dogmatic doctrine of the Christian God was best revealed by Rublev the artist, his Icon of the Trinity differs from other options. He refuses Sarah, Abraham, minimally uses dishes for eating. The main characters do not eat food, they appear to be engaged in silent communication. These reflections are far from mundane, which becomes clear even to the uninitiated viewer.

The icon of the Trinity by Andrey Rublev is the most famous image painted by the hand of a Russian master. Although very few works of monk Andrei have been preserved, the authorship of this one is considered proven.

Appearance of Rublev's "Trinity"

The image is written on the board, the composition is vertical. There are three figures at the table, behind you can see the house where the Old Testament righteous man lived, the Mamre oak (it has survived to this day, is located in Palestine), a mountain.

The question will be fair - who is depicted on the icon of the Holy Trinity? Behind the appearance of an angel are the personalities of God:

• Father (the figure in the center, blessing the bowl);
• Son (right angel, in a green cloak. He bowed his head, which agrees to his role in the plan of salvation, travelers talk about him);
• God the Holy Spirit (to the left of the viewer, raises his hand to bless the Son for the feat of self-sacrifice).

All the figures, although they express something with postures and gestures, are in deep thought, there is no action. The eyes are fixed on eternity. The icon also has a second name - "Eternal Council". This is the communion of the Holy Trinity about the plan for the salvation of the human race.

Composition is important for describing the icon of the Trinity. Its main is the circle, which clearly expresses the unity, equality of the three hypostases. The bowl is the center of the icon, it is on it that the viewer’s gaze stops. This is nothing else but a type of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The bowl also reminds of the sacrament of the Eucharist, the main thing in Orthodoxy.

The colors of the clothes (azure) are reminiscent of the divine essence of the characters in the story. Each angel also holds a symbol of power - a scepter. The tree here is intended to remind of the tree of paradise, because of which the first people sinned. The house is a symbol of the presence of the Spirit in the Church. The mountain anticipates the image of Golgotha, a symbol of the atonement for the sins of all mankind.

The history of the image of the Holy Trinity

The details of the life of the great master are little known. In the annals, he is almost never mentioned, he did not sign his works (a common practice for that time). Also, the history of writing a masterpiece still has many white spots. It is believed that St. Andrew carried obedience in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, for which his most famous icon was painted. There are different opinions about the time of creation of the Trinity icon. Part dates it to 1412, other scholars give 1422.

The realities of life in the 15th century. were far from peaceful, the Moscow principality was on the verge of a bloody war. The theological content of the icon, the unity of the hypostases of the depicted Persons is a prototype of universal love. It was to harmony, fraternal unity that the icon painter of his contemporaries called. The Old Testament Trinity for Sergius of Radonezh was a symbol of unity, which is why he named the monastery in her honor.

The abbot of the Lavra really wanted to complete the decoration of the Trinity Cathedral, for which he gathered the best. Frescoes were planned on the walls - traditionally for that period. Also, the iconostasis needed to be filled. "Trinity" - a temple icon (the most important), which is located in the bottom row near the Royal Doors (the clergy go through them during the service).

Return of color

In the history of the icon "Trinity" an important stage was the new discovery of a long-familiar material. Several decades ago, restorers learned how to clean old images from drying oil. Under a small fragment of the Trinity, V. Guryanov discovered a surprisingly lively shade of blue (the color of robes). A wave of visitors followed.

But the monastery was not happy about this, the icon was hidden under a massive salary. Work has stopped. Apparently, they feared that there would be those who wanted to spoil the shrine (this happened with other well-known images).

It was possible to complete the work after the revolution, when the Lavra itself was closed. The restorers were struck by the bright colors that were hidden under a dark coating: cherry, gold, azure. One of the angels is wearing a green cape, in some places you can see pale pink. These are heavenly colors that indicate one of the meanings of the Trinity icon. She, as it were, calls the praying person back to where unity with God is possible, this is a real window to another world.

The meaning and meaning of the icon of the Holy Trinity

The icon of the Life-Giving Trinity has several semantic layers. Approaching it, a person becomes, as it were, a participant in the action. After all, there are four places at the table, and only three are sitting at it. Yes, this is the seat that Abraham should sit at. But everyone is invited for it. Any person, as a child of God, should strive into the arms of the heavenly Father, into the lost paradise.

The icon of the Holy Trinity is not only a well-known image, but also a great work of world art. This is an excellent example of reverse perspective: the lines of the table (or rather, the throne) inside the composition go to infinity. If they are extended in the opposite direction, they will point to the place where the observer stands, as if inscribing him into the composition.

The search for God, on which many spend their whole lives, for Andrei Rublev seems to have a logical conclusion in this work. We can say that the icon of the Holy Trinity has become a catechism written in colors, expounded by the great ascetic of the faith. The fullness of knowledge, peace and confidence in God's love fill everyone who looks at the image with an open heart.

Rublev - a mysterious person

The authorship of the great image, the only one of its kind, was established a century later. Contemporaries, however, quickly forgot who painted the Trinity icon, they were not particularly worried about the task of collecting information about the great master and preserving his work. For five hundred years, he was not mentioned in the holy calendar. The saint was officially canonized only at the end of the 20th century.

The people's memory almost immediately made the icon painter a saint. It is known that he was a student of St. Sergius of Radonezh himself. Probably, he perfectly learned the spiritual lessons of the great old man. And although St. Sergius left no theological writings, his position is unequivocally read in the icon created by his disciple. And the people's memory preserved his monastic deeds.

Back in the 17th century. Rublev was mentioned in the legend of the great icon painters. They depicted him even on icons, among other ascetics from the Lavra.

Non-canonical images

Many believers have seen an icon called the New Testament Trinity. It depicts a gray-haired old man, Christ and a soaring dove. However, such plots in Orthodoxy are strictly prohibited. They violate the canonical prohibition, according to which God the Father cannot be depicted.

In accordance with the Holy Scriptures, only symbolic images of the Lord are allowed, for example, under the guise of an angel or Christ. Everything else is heresy and should be removed from the homes of pious Christians.

The dogma about the Trinity, which is very difficult to understand, looks very accessible in such non-canonical icons. The desire of ordinary people to make something complex simple and visual is understandable. Nevertheless, you can acquire these images only at your own risk - the conciliar decree forbids them, even consecrating them is prohibited.

An old image in a new incarnation

In the 17th century icon painter Simon Ushakov enjoyed well-deserved fame in Moscow. Many images came out from under his pen, including the icon "Trinity". Ushakov took Rublev's painting as a basis. The composition and elements are the same, but executed in a completely different manner. The influence of the Italian school is noticeable, the details are more real.

For example, a tree has a spreading crown, its trunk has darkened over time. Angel wings are also made realistically, reminiscent of real ones. Their faces do not have reflections of inner experiences, they are calm, their features are drawn in detail, in volume.

The meaning of the icon "Trinity" in this case does not change - a person is also invited to become a participant in his own salvation, for which God, for his part, has already prepared everything. It's just that the writing style isn't as upscale anymore. Ushakov managed to combine ancient canons with new European trends in painting. These artistic techniques make the Trinity more earthly and accessible.

What helps the icon of the Holy Trinity

Since the "Trinity" is a kind of catechism (only these are not words, but an image), it will be useful for every believer to have it at home. There is an image in every Orthodox church.

The icon "Trinity" helps to better understand the relationship between God and man, in front of it you can immediately turn to all the divine Persons, or to one of Them. It is good to say prayers of repentance, read the Psalms, ask for help in weakening faith, also for instructing those who have fallen into error, have gone the wrong way.

Holy Trinity Day is a transitional holiday, celebrated after Easter (after 50 days). In Rus', on this day, churches are decorated with green branches, the floor is covered with grass, the priests put on green vestments. The first Christians at that time began to harvest, brought them for consecration.

When choosing an icon of the Holy Trinity, care should be taken, because non-canonical images are sometimes found even in church shops. It is better to take the image as it was written by Rublev, or his followers. You can pray about everything, because the Lord is merciful and will help in any business if a person’s heart is pure.

Prayers to the icon of the Holy Trinity

Prayer 1st

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.

Prayer 2

The Most Holy Trinity, consubstantial Power, all the good Wine that we will reward You for everything, even if You rewarded us sinners and unworthy before, Than we were born into the world, for everything, even if You reward us for all days, and if You have prepared for all of us in the future !
It’s better, for a lot of good deeds and generosity, to thank You not just words, but more than deeds, keeping and fulfilling Your commandments: we, by our passions and evil habits, are out of our minds, in countless from youth, sins and iniquities are cast down. For this sake, as if unclean and defiled, not just before Your Trisagion face appear shamelessly, but below the name of Your Most Holy One, speak to us, otherwise You Yourself would deign, to our joy, to proclaim, as pure and righteous loving, and penitent sinners, merciful and kindly accept. Look down, O Most Divine Trinity, from the height of Thy Holy Glory on us sinners, and accept our good will, instead of good deeds; and give us the spirit of true repentance, and having hated every sin, in purity and truth, we will live until the end of our days, doing Thy most holy will and glorifying Thy sweetest and most magnificent name with pure thoughts and good deeds. Amen.

Icon of the Holy Trinity - what is depicted on it? We will talk about this by considering the issue using the example of the ten most famous icons depicting the Holy Trinity.

The Holy Trinity

One of the founding fathers of ancient philosophy, and with it the entire European civilization, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said: "Philosophy begins with surprise." The same can be said about Christian dogma - it cannot but cause surprise. The worlds of Tolkien, Ende and Lewis, with all their fabulous mysteries, do not even draw a shadow of the mysterious and paradoxical world of Christian theology.

Christianity begins with the great mystery of the Most Holy Trinity - the mystery of God's Love, manifested in this one incomprehensible unity. V. Lossky wrote that in the Trinity we see the unity in which the Church exists. Just as the Persons of the Trinity are not mixed, but constitute the One, we are all gathered into the one Body of Christ - and this is not a metaphor, not a symbol, but the same reality as the reality of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

How to portray a mystery? Only through another secret. The joyful mystery of the Incarnation made it possible to portray the Indescribable. The icon is a symbolic text about God and holiness, manifested in time and space and existing in eternity, just as the fairy-tale forest from Michael Ende's "The Neverending Story", created in the imagination of the protagonist, begins to exist without end and beginning.

We can comprehend this eternity thanks to another, far from the last mystery in the world of Christian theology: God Himself enlightens every Christian after the Apostles, giving Himself - the Holy Spirit. We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Chrismation, and it permeates the whole world, thanks to which this world exists.

So, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the mystery of the Trinity. And therefore the day of Pentecost - the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles - we call the "Day of the Holy Trinity."

The Trinity and “Hospitality of Abraham” - the plot of the icon of the Life-Giving Trinity

The indescribable can be depicted only to the extent that it has been revealed to us. On this basis, the Church does not allow the image of God the Father. And the most correct image of the Trinity is the iconographic canon "Hospitality of Abraham", sending the viewer back to the distant Old Testament times:

And the Lord appeared to him at the oaks of Mamre, when he was sitting at the entrance to his tent, during the heat of the day.

He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood before him. Seeing, he ran towards them from the entrance to the tent [his] and bowed to the ground, and said: Lord! if I have found favor in Your sight, do not pass by Your servant; and they will bring some water and wash your feet; and rest under this tree, and I will bring bread, and you will refresh your hearts; then go [on your way]; as you pass by your servant. They said: do as you say.

And Abraham hurried to the tent to Sarah and said to [her], quickly knead three sats of the best flour and make unleavened bread.

And Abraham ran to the flock, and took a tender and good calf, and gave it to the boy, and he hastened to prepare it.

And he took butter, and milk, and a calf that had been cooked, and set it before them, and he himself stood beside them under a tree. And they ate.

The story of a hospitable elder who recognized God in three men is in itself touching and instructive for any believer: if you serve your neighbor, you serve the Lord. We meet the image of this event very early.

Mosaic on the triumphal arch of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome created in the 5th century. The image is visually divided into two parts. At the top, Abraham runs out to meet three men (one of them is surrounded by a radiance symbolizing the glory of the Godhead). At the bottom - the guests are already sitting at the laid table, and Abraham serves them. Sarah stands behind Abraham. The artist conveys the movement by depicting the old man twice: here he is giving instructions to his wife, but he turned around to put a new dish on the table.

By the 14th century, the canon "Hospitality of Abraham" had already fully developed. Icon "Trinity Zyryanskaya", which, according to legend, belonged to St. Stephen of Perm - a slightly modified version of it. Three angels are seated at the table, under it lies a calf, and Abraham and Sarah are at the bottom left. In the background is a building with a turret (Abraham's house) and a tree (Mamvrian oak).

Images may change, but the set of symbols and characters remains the same: three angels, a couple serving them, below - a calf (sometimes with a youth slaughtering him), oak, Abraham's chambers. 1580, icon " Holy Trinity in existence”, surrounded by stamps with images of events related to the phenomena of the Trinity. An interesting detail: Abraham and Sarah are not just serving at the table, but also sitting at it. The icon is located in the Solvychegodsk Historical and Art Museum:

More typical, for example, is an icon of the 16th century from the Trinity Gerasimov Church in Vologda. Angels are in the center of the composition, behind them are Abraham and Sarah.

The icon is considered the pinnacle of Russian icon painting. Trinity, written by Reverend Andrei Rublev. Minimum symbols: three angels (Trinity), a chalice (Atonement sacrifice), a table (the Lord's meal, the Eucharist), a reverse perspective - "expanding" from the viewer (the space of the icon, describing the world above, is immeasurably larger than the world below). Of the recognizable realities - an oak (Mamre), a mountain (here is the sacrifice of Isaac, and Golgotha) and a building (Abraham's house? Church? ..).

This image will become a classic for the Russian icon, although there may be some discrepancies in the details. For example, sometimes a cross appears on the middle angel on a halo - this is how Christ is depicted on icons.

Icon of the Holy Trinity, XVII century

Another example: Simon Ushakov depicts the meal in more detail.

The canon "Hospitality of Abraham" is optimal for depicting the Holy Trinity: it emphasizes the unity of essence (three angels) and the difference of hypostases (angels are present in the space of the icon "autonomously" from each other).

Therefore, a similar canon is used when depicting the appearance of the Trinity to the saints. One of the most famous images Apparition of the Holy Trinity to the Monk Alexander of Svir:

Non-canonical images

However, there have been attempts to portray God in the Trinity and otherwise.

It is extremely rare in Western European and Russian temple painting to come across an image used in the iconography of the Renaissance, where three faces are combined in one body. In church painting, it did not take root due to obvious heresy (mixing Hypostases), and in secular painting - because of unaesthetic.

Image by Hieronymus Cosido, Spain, Navarre

But the image Trinity New Testament” is common, although there is another extreme in it - the division of the Essence of the Divine.

The most famous icon of this canon is “ Fatherland» Novogorodskaya school (XIV century). The Father sits on the throne in the form of a gray-haired old man, on his knees is the Child Jesus, holding a circle with the image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Around the throne are seraphim and cherubim, closer to the frame are saints.

No less common is the image of the New Testament Trinity in the form of the Elder-Father, on the right hand - Christ the King (or Christ holding the Cross), and in the middle - the Holy Spirit also in the form of a dove.

XVII century., Museum of Old Russian Art. Andrey Rublev

How did the canon of the "New Testament Trinity" appear, if the image of God the Father, Whom no one has seen, is forbidden by the council? The answer is simple: by mistake. The book of the prophet Daniel mentions the Old Denmi - God:

The Ancient of Days sat down; His garment was as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like a pure wave. (Dan. 7:9).

It was believed that Daniel saw the Father. In fact, the apostle John saw Christ in exactly the same way:

I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me; And turning around, he saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands, like the Son of Man, clothed in a robe, and girded around his chest with a golden sash: His head and hair were as white as a white wave, like snow ...

(Rev. 1:12-14).

The image of the "Old Denmi" exists in itself, but is the image of the Savior, not the Trinity. For example, on the fresco of Dionysius in the Ferapontov Monastery, a halo with the Cross is clearly visible, with which the Savior is always depicted.

Two more interesting images of the "New Testament Trinity" came from the Catholic Church. They are rarely used, but also worthy of attention.

Adoration of the Holy Trinity by Albrecht Dürer(the picture is kept in the Vienna Museum of Art History): in the upper part of the composition the Father is depicted, below Him is Christ on the Cross, and above them is the Spirit as a dove. Worship of the Trinity is rendered by the Heavenly Church (angels and all saints with the Mother of God) and the Earthly Church - the bearers of secular (emperor) and church (pope) power, priests and laity.

Image " Coronation of the Mother of God”is associated with the Theotokos dogmas of the Catholic Church, but due to the deep veneration of the Most Pure Virgin by all Christians, it has also become widespread in Orthodoxy.

Virgin on the images of the Trinity, Prado, Madrid

The Virgin Mary is depicted in the center of the composition, the Father and the Son hold a crown over Her head, and a dove depicting the Holy Spirit soars above them.

The main dogma of Christianity consists in the doctrine of the three persons of one essentially God, who are the Holy Trinity. These three hypostases contained in Him - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are not merged with each other and are inseparable. Each of them is a manifestation of one of its essences. The Holy Church teaches about the complete unity of the Trinity, which creates the world, provides for it and sanctifies it.

The decoration of the table also attracts attention. If in Rublev it is limited to only one bowl with the head of a calf, which is also full of symbolic meaning and directs the viewer’s thoughts to reflections on the expiatory sacrifice of the Son of God, then in this case the painter emphasized the rich table setting, combined with the exquisite painting of the chairs. Such an abundance of decorativeness is not typical for an icon.

Trinity of the New Testament

The plot of the icons described above is taken from the Old Testament, therefore they are called the Old Testament Trinity. But one cannot ignore the frequently encountered images of the New Testament Trinity - a different version of the image of the Divine Trinity. It is based on the words of Jesus Christ given in the Gospel of John: "I and the Father are one." In this plot, the three Divine hypostases are represented by images of God the Father in the form of a gray-haired old man, God the Son, that is, Christ, in the form of a middle-aged man and the Holy Spirit in

Variants of the image of the New Testament Trinity

This plot is known in several iconographic versions, differing from each other, mainly by the position of the figures depicted in it. The most common of them - "The Throne", represents the frontal image of God the Father and God the Son, seated on thrones or clouds, and the Dove hovering over Them - the Holy Spirit.

Another well-known plot is called "Fatherland". In it, God the Father is represented sitting on a throne with a baby sitting on his lap and holding a sphere in his hands in a blue radiance. Inside it is placed a symbolic image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove.

Controversy over the possibility of portraying God the Father

There are other icon-painting variants of the New Testament Trinity, such as "Crucifixion in the bosom of the Father", "Eternal Light", "Sending Christ to earth" and a number of others. However, despite their wide distribution, disputes over the legitimacy of depicting such plots have not ceased among theologians for centuries.

Skeptics appeal to the fact that, according to the Gospel, no one has ever seen God the Father, and therefore it is impossible to portray him. In support of their opinion, they mention the Great Moscow Cathedral of 1666-1667, the 43rd paragraph of the decree forbids the image of God the Father, which at one time gave rise to the withdrawal of many icons from use.

Their opponents also base their claims on the gospel, citing the words of Christ: "He who has seen me has seen my Father." One way or another, but the New Testament Trinity, despite disputes, is firmly included in the plots of icons revered by the Orthodox Church. By the way, all of the listed variants of the New Testament Trinity appeared in Russian art relatively late. Until the 16th century they were unknown.