THE MOTHER OF OUR GOD

 

We start a new year and as the war in Ukraine continues, we pray the beautful prayers to Theotokos:

Rejoice, Virgin Birthgiver-of-God, Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have given birth to the Saviour of our souls.

 It is right, in truth, to call you Blessed, Birthgiver of God, Ever-Blessed, Most Pure and the MOTHER OF OUR GOD. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, in virginity you gave birth to God the Word. True Birthgiver-of-God, we magnify you. Amen.

 Beneath your tender mercy we flee, Birthgiver-of-God. Reject not our prayer in our trouble, but deliver us from harm, Only Pure and Blessed Lady. Amen

Mykola Rybenchuk, is a monumental artist and icon painter. Since the war between his country and Russia, he has painted many pieces depicting war, but this very gentle icon, I think, depicts the love of Mary for her Child and nature at peace.

He is an Honored artist of the arts of Ukraine, awarded the gold medal "For sacrifice and love of Ukraine" by Metropolitan Epiphany. He has painted many Christian Churches in Ukraine.  His paintings show the beauty of nature through the effect of color. He uses pure colors, without mixing more than two colors, depicts volume and perspective with beautiful colors, which gives his paintings additional exceptional imagery and makes the paints himself, using natural organic pigments, wax, and linseed oil.

Recently, the artist paints pictures on the theme of war. The pictures depict children who survived the war. The artist's paintings are in museums and private collections of various countries around the world. He is married to the artist Lyudmila Rybenchuk, also an icon painter.