The depth of the Nativity icon

The Nativity icon is a true wealth of theological depth.

The birth of Christ takes place in a cave. He is surrounded by animals - most notably a donkey and an ox. The Theotokos is reclining at His side, clad in a garment with three stars upon it. Joseph is sitting afar off, looking doubtful, and listening to a shabby character. To the left we see three travellers on horseback, faces turned skyward toward the light of the star shining into the cave; to the right we see two shepherds, clearly startled and afraid as an angel speaks to them. At the bottom right we see a woman pouring water to wash the Christ-child.

The cave deliberately evokes the imagery of the tomb and the mortality of Christ - and so too does the manger in which He lies (in the shape of a coffin) and the white swaddling-clothes he’s wrapped in (the image of His burial-shroud). The donkey and the ox at His side are both witness to the humble status of His birth, and also symbols of the Gentile and the Jewish nations respectively.

The Theotokos’s garment, and three stars upon it, are testament to her perpetual virginity - before, during, and after the birth of the Christ-child. Her gaze is turned toward Joseph, who looks distracted and doubtful, as a demon in human form plants doubts in his mind about his wife's virginity.

The visitors on horseback are clearly clad in the garments of foreigners. Their attention is on the star whose light leads to the cave. They are carrying gifts of gold, symbolising Christ's Kingship over all creation; of incense, symbolising Christ’s Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek; and of myrrh, a flammable oil which evokes Christ's role as the penultimate Prophet.

The shepherds are notable for their simple, poor garments as well as for the look of cringing fright upon their faces and in their stances before the awful apparition of the angel - even though the angel is giving them tidings of joy. A third shepherd is seated on a rock, having understood what the angel has said, and his playing the flute expresses this joy.

At the bottom right of the icon is the image of Salome who, accompanied by a midwife, came to wash Christ after His birth. This expresses that Christ is fully human, and partakes fully of human nature in everything except our sin. He was covered in amniotic fluid coming forth from the Virgin’s womb, the same as any other tiny human has been that comes into the world, and required washing.

And note who IS and who IS NOT in this icon. The people in this icon who are partaking in the good news of the Incarnation are all from the lower ranks of society. Foreigners - that is to say, Gentiles. Rural poor. Women. A doubting stepfather. There are no rabbis. No senators. No legionaries. The respected, the strong, the powerful and the exalted among men are nowhere to be seen here. Note that those closest to Christ, apart from His Mother, are the lowly beasts of burden.

The mystery of the Incarnation, therefore, however incomprehensible it might be to the doubting Saint Joseph (as to many of the rest of us!), is in fact a good news which is given to all regardless of age or wealth or nationality or sex, and not only to a select few. With all creation, then, right down to the lowliest donkey and ox, we are privileged to say: Christ is Born!