Angels flank the old crucifix at Precious Blood Church in Cloverdale, chalices held high to catch the blood and water from Christ’s side. The icons perfectly reflect the namesake of the parish and breathe new life into the sanctuary of the church.
The four icons surrounding the Surrey parish’s crucifix were made by Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Cathedral’s artist-in-residence, Serhii Kolodka, at the request of pastor Father Ray Usman. The icons have been in production since last November and were unveiled for the community on Sunday, April 6.
The angels are part of the larger iconographic story based on the Passion narrative found in the Gospel of John. On the left panel are the three women: Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalen, and Mary Clopas. On the right are Saint John the Beloved and the centurion holding the spear that pierced the side of Christ, his arm raised towards the body.
Some artistic licence connects St. John and the centurion, and Father Usman told The B.C. Catholic the unhaloed man next to them represents “each and every one of us.” The man expresses the call for each of us to be saints while balancing the symmetry of the composition.
Surrounding the crucifix are small icons representing the four evangelists: a lion for Mark, an ox for Luke, an eagle for John, and Matthew’s angel. Father Usman was recruited to help with the simple paintwork on these panels.
Above the whole sanctuary is a panel with the hand of God pointing towards a dove representing the Holy Spirit and Christ on the physical crucifix.
Father Usman had been praying about the project since his installation at the parish two years ago. He consulted with Kolodka and Father Mykhailo Ozorovych, pastor of Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster, about what might be a good fit for the church, having worked with them to make icons for his last parish, Holy Spirit in New Westminster.
The initial proposal had only the two side panels. When Usman finally brought Kolodka’s mock-up to the parish council last November and asked, “Which of you would like to have this at our parish?” the response was positive.
The old paintings that used to hang on either side of the crucifix – one of Mary holding the child Christ, and an angel holding the Eucharist – made by parishioner Theresa Laturnus, will be gifted to previous pastor Father Anthony Ho.
The icons are written in a style that straddles the line between novelty and tradition. The figures are curved and stylized, but many traditional colours and symbols are still there. Mary’s robe, for example, is red, her traditional colour in Eastern iconography.
The choice to go with an iconographic style was motivated by what icons offer to the viewer as sacred art. “The icon looks at us,” Father Usman said. “We respond with our own attention.”
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