St. John the Forerunner rendered as the Angel of the Desert. Hand-written in varnished pigment on gold-leafed and gessoed wood panel. Measures approx. 12" x 10". St. John is depicted with wings as he is a Messenger; he is holding a scroll and a basin with the newborn Savior in his left hand. St. Martyr Eugene is depicted to his right and Saint Martyr Antip on his left. Two thousand years ago, St. John's preaching and baptizing signaled that the time had come for the Lord Jesus to leave His private life in Nazareth and assume a public ministry (Mt. 3:13). In a similar way the death of the Prophet was a sign for the Lord Jesus to go into Galilee and begin preaching, gathering disciples, and healing (Mt. 4:12-17). The title, "Forerunner," is fortuitous in several ways. The Baptist's prophecies forecast that the Lord's ministry would illumine men with the Holy Spirit. St. John's message and work foreshadowed Christ's emphasis on repentance, and the Prophet's death forebode the execution of the Savior.
4,000/5,000
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