Joy of All Joys Tenderness Theotokos Iconographic Based on Traditional Orthodox Iconography | Bright Red Design | Orthodox Christian Art PosterThe Tenderness Icon is remarkable since the Theotokos is depicted without her Child, or even before His conception at the moment of the Archangel's greeting, when she is the Most Pure Vessel of the Holy Spirit Saint Seraphim [of Sarov] commanded us to call this Tenderness Icon [the one he kept in his cell], the Joy of all Joys. Fr. Pavel Florensky

the occasion of the Archangel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary to announce to her the glad tidings of her essential role in the incarnation of the Son of God:

all ye stars and light

never forgetting that in Christ the victory is already ours

which means

Thou wast willingly nailed

because he knoweth that he hath but a short time

Chrysostom was rather a maximalist

In the Mystery of Baptism and Chrismation a man “puts on Christ” and the Holy Spirit (Gal

or naked and clothe you

and if children

Thy creative ordinance was my beginning and foundation

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death