Visual Cherubikon
Visual Cherubikon

Mary as Priest at Lagoudera in Cyprus

Author(s): Matthew J. Milliner
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History, Middle Ages, Theology and Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Trivent Publishing
Keywords: Virgin Mary; Mary as Priest; Protevangelium; Dormition; Koimesis; Byzantine Art; Priesthood; Presentation of Mary in the Temple; Presentation of Christ; Cherubikon; Eucharist
Summary/Abstract: Mary’s priesthood is a prominent theme in Byzantine art, and this paper argues that it abounds at the Virgin of the Vetches church (Panagia tou Arakos) at Lagoudera in Cyprus, especially because of extensive depictions of the apocrypha. Through subtle interpretations of the Protevangelium and Dormition narratives, the twelfth-century artist Theodore Apsevdis highlighted priestly aspects of the beginning, middle and end of Mary’s life, aspects unified through a visualization of the Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn (Cherubikon) which is said by priests to commence the Eucharistic portion of the liturgy.

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