Icon of the "Last Supper" and its meaning

In Christianity there are many miraculous and very revered icons. But there is one that can be found in every home. This is the icon of the "Last Supper", which depicts a scene that occurred two thousand years ago on the eve of the crucifixion of Christ.

Plot

The image is based on the biblical story of the last days of Jesus on earth. On the eve of Judas's betrayal, arrest and crucifixion, Christ gathered all his disciples in the house for a meal. During it, he broke a piece of bread and gave it to the apostles, saying: "Eat, this is my body, which breaks for you for the remission of sins." Then he drank from the cup and also gave it to his followers, saying that his blood was there for the atonement of sins. These words were then included in the church ritual, known as the Eucharist. The icon of the "Last Supper" also reminds the believer that on that far day Jesus foretold that very soon he would be betrayed by one of the disciples. The apostles became agitated, asking who was talking about, but the Lord gave bread to Judah. On Holy Thursday, the Christian church remembers this event as a special service.

Meaning of the icon

"Last Supper" is an icon, the meaning of which is very clear and at the same time not fully understood. The main, central elements are the wine and bread that stand on the table. They talk about the body and blood of Jesus, who sacrificed himself. At the same time, it can be argued that Christ himself acts as a lamb, traditionally prepared for the Passover by the Jews.

It is difficult to answer today, when the Last Supper took place. The icon only conveys the essence of this event, but it is also important. After all, the communion with the body and blood of the Lord allows every believer to become a part of that meal, where the foundations of the Christian church were born, its main mystery. She talks about the most important thing in the life of a Christian - accepting the sacrifice of Jesus, letting her through her body and soul, unite with him into one.

Hidden Symbolism

The icon of the "Last Supper" is a symbol of the true faith and unity of the human race. The scientists who studied the Bible texts compared them to other sources, more ancient and independent. They came to the conclusion that Jesus at his own meal was carrying out a ritual that had been established before him for a thousand years. Breaking bread, drinking wine from the cup are those things that were made by the Jews and before him. Thus, Christ did not reject the old customs, but only supplemented them, improved them, introduced a new meaning in them. He showed that to serve God it is not necessary to leave people, to break with them all relationships, but on the contrary, one should go to people and serve them.

The most famous icon and its analysis

"Last Supper" - an icon that can often be seen in the refectory and in the kitchen. Today there is a wide variety of images of this subject. And each icon-painter introduced his vision, his understanding of faith into it. But the most popular icon of the "Last Supper" belongs to the brush of Leonardo da Vinci.

Written at the end of the fifteenth century, the famous fresco is located in the Milan monastery. The legendary painter used a special technique of drawing, but the fresco very quickly began to collapse. The image depicts Jesus Christ sitting in the center, and the apostles, divided into groups. Identification of students could hold only after in the nineteenth century Leonardo's notebooks were found.

It is believed that the icon "The Last Supper", a photo of which can be found in our article, depicts the moment where students learn about the betrayal. The painter wanted to show the reaction of each of them, including Judas, because the faces of all people are turned towards the viewer. The traitor sits, clutching a bag of silver in his hand and placing his elbow on the table (which no apostle has done ). Peter froze, holding a knife in his hand. Christ points with his hands to the meal, that is, bread and wine.

Leonardo uses symbolism number three: behind Christ are three windows, students sit in three, and even the contours of Jesus resemble a triangle. Many people try to find in the image a hidden message, some mystery and a clue to it. So, Dan Brown believes that the artist showed the meal in an unconventional way, saying that Mary Magdalena is sitting next to Jesus. In his interpretation is the wife of Christ, the mother of his children, from whom the church rejects. But whatever it was, Leonardo da Vinci created an amazing icon that is known not only to Christians, but also to believers of other religions. It attracts people with a magnet, making us think about the impermanence of life.