Icon Writing With Kids–The Ascension

“Then [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.” Luke 24:45-51

What I like about this Icon is that Christ sits upon a rainbow as a reminder of what we hope for—resurrection and a life with Christ in Heaven.  The blue circle (mandorla/aureoles) behind Christ is a glimpse into Heaven.  Whenever you see a blue circle or ellipse it means that Heaven enters this world.  It’s one of my favorite things in Icon writing.

It seems to me the more Icons we write together the more detailed the festal icons are. Coincidence?