Our Lady of the Harbor

Today is my birthday !!!!! Now I am just one year away from 70 !!!! How could that possibly be ????
This beautiful copy of a Byzantine-style icon of our blessed mother, done by Sr. Marie Fitzpatrick, FSMA...no, I don't know what that stands for... was a gift from my son and daughter in law. Talk about a cool gift...this one tops them all.
It is based partially on two frescoes. The Virgin of the Sign, a 14th century fresco and mosaic and Our Lady Shelter of the World, both in Constantinople. In both of these icons, Mary holds her hands in a gesture of "Orans," or prayer. She holds her veil in a protective, shielding sign over those she is sheltering. The mandala on Mary's bosom represents the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The three stars symbolize Mary's virginity Before, During, and After the Incarnation of her Son, Jesus Christ. The 23-karat gold leaf Halos repreent the aura of eternal sanctity. The Mountains are an ancient symbol, signifying that even created matter has been transformed by Mary's presence. The bell tower of St. Nicholas Church, Gig Harbor, is shown in the distance and two fishing boats are in the Harbor beneath Mary. The Byzantine inscriptions shown are abbreviated forms of Jesus Christ IC XC and Mother of God MP OY.
The icon was commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of the Harbor 4th Degree Assembly # 2501 in 1998 as an icon of the assembly. The iconographer, Sr. Marie Fitzpatrick, FSMA, is world renowned, Sir Knight Gregory Sutphen presented a reproduction to Edouard Cardinal Gagnon at the Vatican, who presented another one to Pope John Paul II. The Cardinal is President of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congress. A full size copy has been presented to Pope Benedict XVI in April 2009.
More on Byzantine Iconography