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In celebration of the Great Jubilee Year 2000, Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., commissioned The Icon of the Church for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Iconographer Melpo M. DeFotis of Park Ridge, Ill. created the icon for the archdiocese. The Icon of the Church, blessed in liturgy by Archbishop Weakland, will be displayed at major church jubilee celebrations throughout the year. The Pentecost Icon was first shown at the Jubilee Gathering for Youth in April and later was part of the Pentecost liturgy at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
The Icon of the Church is a living proclamation piece that holds the context of Pentecost, the beginning of the Church, as revealed in Scripture. The Spirit descending upon the Church, igniting the frightened disciples to proclaim boldly the Good News of Christ, is captured and illuminated from the layered paint of the icon. The icon's essence is timeless, deeply rooted in Byzantine and Russian tradition. The viewer, through patience, prayer, and contemplation may experience the icon's spirituality. Unconfined, timeless, transfigured, and seen as if through the eyes of heaven, the icon draws the venerating into a mindful state of evangelization.
Liturgical use of icons is common. Honor may be given to the event or persons depicted in the icon. Keeping with the jubilee celebration, The Icon of the Church bears a challenge and reminder pertaining to the Church's mission of spreading the salvation of Jesus Christ. The icon beckons and encourages the faithful to renew the light of the Spirit to the world. Mrs. DeFotis prepared and created the icon through prayer and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. "We are different from one another, but through the Holy Spirit can comprehend one another," she commented.
A reproduction of the icon has been presented as a gift to all parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
The Icon of the Church will be on display at the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center's Mater Christi Chapel, except for the following occasions:
Spring General Meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic Conference - June 15-17 - Midwest Express Center
Archdiocese of Milwaukee Eucharistic Congress - October 28-29 - Midwest Express Center
Archdiocese of Milwaukee Jubilee Art Show - Nov. 3-Dec. 22 - Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center Archives
Click on the Link below for the HTML version of the Icon of the Church booklet, which was created to assist people in viewing the icon and in their understanding and appreciation of the liturgical art of iconography.
Icon of the Church Brochure - HTML Version
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