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What a joy it is for us to be drawn into this circle of divine love portrayed in Rublev’s icon! In the words of Henri Nouwen: Henri Nouwen’s Meditation on Rublev’s Icon

Love is initiated by the Father, embodied by the Son, and accomplished through the Spirit. The Father blesses the Son, the Son accepts the cup of sacrifice, the Spirit comforts the Son in his mission, and the Father shows he is pleased with the Son. His gaze is toward the open space at the table.ĭid you notice the beautiful circular movement in the icon of Father, Son, and Spirit? The Son and the Spirit incline their heads toward the Father and he directs his gaze back at them. His head is inclined toward the Father and the Son. His hand is resting on the table next to the cup, suggesting that he will be with the Son as he carries out his mission. Over his divinely blue tunic he wears a cloak of green, symbolizing life and regeneration. The Spirit is indicated in the figure on the right. His head is bowed in submission to the Father on the left. With his hand he blesses the cup he is to drink, accepting his readiness to sacrifice himself for humanity. He is the King who descends to serve as priest to the people he created and to become part of them. He wears both the blue of divinity and reddish purple of royal priesthood. The Son is portrayed in the middle figure. His head is the only one that is lifted high and yet his gaze is turned to the other two figures. With his right he blesses the Son – he is pleased with the sacrifice he will make. His divinely blue tunic is cloaked in a color that is light and almost transparent because he is the hidden Creator. The Father is like the figure on the left. And the face of each is exactly the same, depicting their oneness.

Each wears a cloak of blue, the color of divinity. Each holds a rod in his left hand, symbolizing their equality. Others had painted this Biblical story, but Rublev was the first to paint only the three angelic figures and to make them of equal size. Most scholars understand the figures to be seated left to right in their doxological order of Father, Son, and Spirit. In Rublev’s icon painting he depicts the three heavenly visitors sitting at a table with a cup placed before them on the table. In the Genesis account the Lord visits Abraham in the form of three men who are apparently angels representing God.Ībraham bows low to the ground before his three visitors and they speak to Abraham in union and are alternatively referred to by the Genesis writer as “they” or “the Lord.” Abraham offers them the hospitality of foot washing, rest under a shade tree, and a meal and they offered him the announcement that God was going to give he and his wife Sarah a son, though Sarah was far past the age of childbearing. Rublev’s Trinity showed them a lovely understanding of God as Three-in-One that is beyond trying to “figure out.” Almost 600 years later Rublev’s icon continues to draw people into the mysterious and wonderful presence of the Trinity. Many in Rublev’s culture were confused by the doctrine of the Trinity and others rejected it altogether. Rublev portrayed what has become the quintessential icon of the Holy Trinity by depicting the three mysterious strangers who visited Abraham (Genesis 18:1-15). Andrei Rublev painted The Hospitality of Abraham in 1411 for the abbot of the Trinity Monastery in Russia. I’m eager to hear what you want to say to me… History of Rublev’s Icon

Yes, Lord, I want to sit at the table with you.

Let’s open our hearts to the Lord as we meditate on Rublev’s icon… Welcome to the embrace of the Trinity! I invite you to enjoy with me this beautiful ancient painting by Rublev and experience the hospitality of the Trinity. Let’s enjoy the love of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

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