question about an icon of St. Timothy

[hungrytiger]

http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=100033

In the icon on that page, it looks like Timothy is missing his right ring finger. Why is that? Is he for some reason really meant to look like a finger's missing or is it some kind of gesture that's hiding just that finger? Anybody know?

No big deal, I just came across it and was curious.

[repentant]

It looks like he is making the IC XC with his hand. The finger that is missing (ring finger) is touching the thumb. This looks like a front view of the sign as opposed to the side which is more common. Which is why is finger looks missing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/cantstopmycrossova/orthodoxblessing.jpg

[DonVA]

It looks like his hand is positioned in that "blessing" position (ring finger connected to thumb), but it's facing him, not us.

[hungrytiger]

Oh! I thought it might be something like that but I just wasn't seeing it before. Thank you both. I think I see it now. So, is he like blessing himself?

[repentant]

Oh! I thought it might be something like that but I just wasn't seeing it before. Thank you both. I think I see it now. So, is he like blessing himself?


That's just the way the writer wrote it. You bless yourself with the sign of the cross, not the ICXC sign.

[hungrytiger]

That's just the way the writer wrote it. You bless yourself with the sign of the cross, not the ICXC sign.

What is the ICXC sign used for?

[Breaking Babylon]

It's the way the priest gives his blessing. :)

[repentant]

What is the ICXC sign used for?

For blessings. You have never seen the Priest do it during the Liturgy? It is used by a Priest, Bishop to bless other's, and I have also seen it to bless food. But you don't bless yourself with it.

[hungrytiger]

Well, I probably have seen it before then, but coming at Orthodoxy from Protestantism, there's a lot of stuff to pick up. I'm still noticing new stuff and trying to understand which things are considered meaningful and important and which are just culture and/or style variations or what.

So I guess it doesn't matter which way the hand is facing then, it's still the same sign and is used to bless what's in front of the person. Is that it?

When one makes the sign of the cross does it matter which way the hand faces?

[Michael the Iconographer]

He is not missing his finger, his hand is in the blessing position as the others above have mentioned.

[DonVA]

I just noticed that you can see the full IC XC blessing position when you look at Christ's right hand in my avatar!

[Michael the Iconographer]

I just noticed that you can see the full IC XC blessing position when you look at Christ's right hand in my avatar!
Yes, different iconographers have different ways of depicting the blessing hand. Neither of those is right or wrong, it is just a stylistic choice. You will notice in icons written by an Old Believer iconographer the blessing hand will be shaped totally all together different.

[Xpycoctomos]

I think he's missing his finger

[Xpycoctomos]

There is a tradition in the Antiochian Church that St Timothy cut his right ring finger off as a sign that he would remain celibate. Castration is forbidden. I don't know if he really did this but he is one of the Early Church's foremost celibate saints.

John

[Xpycoctomos]

Oh by the way... I just made all of that up. So the chance of it being true are about as possible as a leprachaun owning a computer.

[Xpycoctomos]

http://www.frontier.wnyric.org/8625192213811/lib/8625192213811/leprechaun_surfing_internet_hg_clr.gif

Hmmm... I might be on to something here.































Sorry, I'm just in one of those moods ;)

[DonVA]

I'm enjoying your mood! It's contageous!
Thanks for the laughs!

[gtsecc]

Protestant catechumens are required to amputate part of their body as a sign they are leaving their former delusions behind, and dying to self. They save the finger until their crismation, during which they throw the finger towards the west and spit 3 times. It is a powerful ceremony which often leaves the newly illumened in tears.

[Xpycoctomos]

Protestant catechumens are required to amputate part of their body as a sign they are leaving their former delusions behind, and dying to self. They save the finger until their crismation, during which they throw the finger towards the west and spit 3 times. It is a powerful ceremony which often leaves the newly illumened in tears.

and a bit bloody...

[Xpycoctomos]

Father Anthony... Christ is in our Midst!

I see you lurking :) Have you introduced yourself anywhere? Unfortunately it is very rare that we ever see a priest here.

Welcome to TAW by the way Father!

John

[FrAnthony]

He's not blessing himself. That's done via the sign of the cross. It appears that in this Icon, he's blessing the books/letters (Holy Scriptures) in his other hand.

[FrAnthony]

Father Anthony... Christ is in our Midst!

I see you lurking :) Have you introduced yourself anywhere? Unfortunately it is very rare that we ever see a priest here.

Welcome to TAW by the way Father!

John

He is and ever shall be!

Thank you for the warm welcome...I haven't done any formal introduction. Just started visiting/participating a few days ago. :) (I just learned how to use the smiley feature...nice).

[Michael the Iconographer]

Oh by the way... I just made all of that up. So the chance of it being true are about as possible as a leprachaun owning a computer.
There is absolutely no truth to that, whatsoever. I have plenty of evidence to back that up, but don't feel like scanning any of it in.

[Paisley]

I had noticed that icon before, and wondered about it.

[Xpycoctomos]

Michael,

I was kidding. ;)

[Michael the Iconographer]

Michael,

I was kidding. ;)
I know you were, but some who are not Orthodox might not know you are. For their sake I was making sure they know you are kidding.