Praying with St. Gabriel the Archangel
Today I finished writing the icon of Gabriel, well almost. There is still some gold to be burnished and the sealing of the icon in a few months, but the basic shape is there. One thing many people don’t realize is that writing an icon is primarily about prayer and only secondarily about painting. Each time the iconographer sits down to work, he begins with prayer. Here is one of the prayers that can be used.
O Divine Lord of all that exists, You have illumined the Apostle and Evangelist Luke with Your Most Holy Spirit, therby enabling him to represent the Most Holy Mother, the one who held you in her arms and said: the Grace of Him Who has been born of me is spread throughout the world. Enlighten and direct our souls, our hearts, and our spirits. Guide the hands of your unworthy servants, so that we may worthily and perfectly protray Your Icon, that of Your Holy Mother, and of all the saints, for the glory, joy, and adornment of Your Holy Church.
Forgive our sins and the sins of those who will venerate these icons, and who, standing devoutly before them, give homage to those they represent. Protect them from all evil and instruct them with good counsel. This we ask through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Apostle Luke, and all the saints, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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