ICONS OF THE PASSION

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The Icon on the left depicts Christ's prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his arrest. The Icon in the middle represents Christ after being stripped, beaten with a reed, crowned with a crown of thorns, and dressed in a purple robe of mockery. In many parishes it is displayed for veneration during the "Bridegroom" services during the first three days of Holy Week.The Icon on the right depicts Christ after the Crucifixion, having demonstrated God's "Extreme Humility." He stands in the tomb against the backdrop of the cross -- and, as God, attended by angels. The icon below is a variant of the Extreme Humility, known as "Mourn not for me, Mother."


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	Crucifixes display many of the same characteristics. The three-barred hand crosses in two styles depict the Crucifixion with the Theotokos and St. John the Divine attending Christ, and angels prostrating themselves before the Holy Napkin. They are used throughout the year to bestow blessings. Pendant crosses, like the one shown in the center, are worn by some clergy, particularly during Lent.