Description

The Gospel of John recounts Jesus's first miraculous "sign" at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, where he transformed water into wine. This event, where Jesus, his mother, and disciples were guests, became necessary when the wine ran out. The Mother of Jesus (never referred to as Mary by name in John's Gospel) prompted Jesus, telling him, "they have no wine." Her role here is seen as highly symbolic; she is presented as the "New Eve," acting in harmony with God's will, in contrast to the original Eve. This initial act of intercession by Jesus's mother foreshadows her ongoing role as an intercessor for humanity after Christ's death and resurrection.

Jesus's response to his mother, and her subsequent instruction to the servers, "Do whatever He tells you," led to the miraculous transformation. This act signifies the replacement of the insufficient water of Jewish purification rites with the "good wine" of Christ's new covenant. The timing of this miracle on the "third day" after Philip's call is a clear foreshadowing of Christ's Resurrection on the third day, revealing his glory. This miracle at a wedding, with its abundance of wine, also anticipates the joyful messianic banquet in God's Kingdom and, more specifically, the Eucharist, where the consecrated wine becomes the Blood of Christ, nourishing believers and preparing them for the "marriage supper of the Lamb" in Revelation.

Furthermore, the timing of the Cana miracle on day seven of Christ's ministry, following John the Baptist's first appearance, alludes to the Genesis creation account, signifying that Jesus's ministry inaugurates a New Creation where humanity is reconciled to God. This connection between the Cana wedding and a new creation is profoundly significant for the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Orthodox Church. The Gospel reading for Orthodox weddings is John 2:1-11, emphasizing Christ's presence and blessing in every marriage within the Church. Just as water was transformed into wine at Cana, a civil marriage can be elevated to a Christ-centered sacramental marriage through faith, enabling couples to experience the abundant grace and love manifested by Christ.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted Orthodox Christian icon reproductions made in the United States with prayer and a desire for excellence. Each of our icons are printed on museum-quality matte canvas, providing a rich print with saturated coloration that lends to a beautiful handwritten-icon appearance.

All Theophany Works Icons are mounted on beveled wooden boards and finished with a high-quality UV protection sealant. This offers a subtle authentic-feeling texture while also enhancing durability, allowing for cleaning with a damp cloth. Additionally, each icon is given a maple-shelled keyhole slot on its back for easy and balanced hanging.

Our beautiful icon reproductions are lovingly made in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania studio. We pray they are a blessing to all who receive them, and we believe they will be a beloved addition to any home or parish—each at a fraction of the cost of a hand-painted icon.

***Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ: Please allow 3 weeks for production as each icon is made to order. If an icon is needed sooner for a baptism, chrismation, wedding, or name day, please contact us—we will always do our very best to accommodate your request.

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