Rublev's Old Testament Trinity - Reflections on the Icon

By Tony Castle

Millions of people have seen copies of the Icon that is often, inaccurately called 'The Old Testament Trinity', but few have had guidance in understanding 'The Hospitality of Abraham' - its correct title. This little book attempts, simply, to explore its meaning and its use in prayer. Originally published by St Paul Publications, it has been continuously in print for over 25 years. Over that period of time the Icon it explores, and reflects upon, has become more and more popular.

The wonderful Russian mystic, Andrei Rublev, who painted the 'Hospitality of Abraham', left no directions or instructions on how to interpret his master-piece. It was simply intended to be prayed before; the person at prayer is left to interpret it for themselves. There is no definitive, or 'correct', way to understand the Icon and benefit from it. The author, very aware of how enriching the daily use of the Icon has been for himself, offers one way. Another person at prayer may benefit in a different way particular to themselves.

This book was not originally written in the quiet of a monastery, or a convent but with the threat of constant interruption against the background of a noisy family of four. In spite of the inevitable family distractions, I am convinced that the family is the proper setting for thoughts on the 'family' of the Holy Trinity. May you be as rewarded as the writer has been in the use of the Icon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tony Castle
• Release date: Jan 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301486540

Tony Castle

Tony has been writing and compiling books for over forty years. Starting with aids to develop Christian Youth Work, Tony's 50+ books, to date, have all been produced to serve the Christian community and its work of evangelisation. In addition to pastoral aids for preachers and teachers, there have been assembly books for secondary and primary schools, liturgical aids for home and school and books of history, theology and spirituality. His books have been sold around the world and published in multiple languages including, Chinese, Hungarian, Polish and Portuguese. Many of the titles have also been published in the USA.

Book preview

Rublev's Old Testament Trinity

Reflections on the Icon

By Tony Castle

Copyright 2012 Tony Castle

Smashwords Edition

www.tonycastlebooks.com

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Contents

Introduction

Chapter One - The Incarnation, Key to Icons

Chapter Two - Hospitality at Mamre's Oak

Chapter Three - The Icon and the Iconographer

Chapter Four - Inviting the Spirit

Chapter Five - Christ the Image

Chapter Six - The Mysterious Father

Chapter Seven - Priesthood of Believers

Chapter Eight - 'He who eats this bread'

Chapter Nine - The Guest Within

Introduction

Millions of people have seen copies of the Icon that is often, inaccurately called 'The Old Testament Trinity' but few have had guidance in understanding 'The Hospitality of Abraham' - its correct title. This little book attempts, simply, to explore its meaning and its use in prayer. Originally published by St Paul Publications, it has been continuously in print for over 25 years. Over that period of time the Icon it explores, and reflects upon, has become more and more popular. It first came to my attention when I was on my honeymoon! My wife and I were browsing around the bookshop at Nashdom Abbey and were both attracted to the Icon, which I bought, totally ignorant of its meaning and message. My wife and I were just setting up home and we knew that, in Christian circles, icons were just becoming fashionable things to have! It hung, largely ignored, on the walls of our home for the next fifteen years, in the company of other pictures. The big change came after I had read a little about the Icon and Sister Maria of the Daughters of St Paul, based at their London Book Centre, kindly gave me a poster version to use in the classroom (I was, at that time, a Religious Education teacher). Using the Icon in the classroom as a visual aid, while speaking about the Holy Trinity, I came to recognise its potential as an aid and stimulus to private meditation. Ever since, at daily prayer time, it has helped me to grow in prayer.

The wonderful Russian mystic, Andrei Rublev, who painted the 'Hospitality of Abraham', left no directions or instructions on how to interpret his master-piece. It was simply intended to be prayed before; the person at prayer is left to interpret it for themselves. There is no definitive, or 'correct', way to understand the Icon and benefit from it. The author, very aware of how enriching the daily use of the Icon has been for himself, offers one way. Another person at prayer may benefit in a different way particular to themselves.

This book was not originally written in the quiet of a monastery, or a convent but with the threat of constant interruption against the background of a noisy family of four. In spite of the inevitable family distractions, I am convinced that the family is the proper setting for thoughts on the 'family' of the Holy Trinity. May you be as rewarded as the writer has been in the use of the Icon.

Chapter One

The Incarnation, Key to Icons

Recently we received through the letter box a National Shoppers' Survey offering us £20's worth of money-off vouchers if we completed and returned it. It really was very comprehensive with fifty-seven questions, all of which were sub-divided, ranging from the type and brand of the coffee we buy to the languages we speak; not omitting to ask about our favourite TV programmes and the ages of any dogs we might have and their body weight! All this, presumably, was to be fed into a computer somewhere so that, I quote, 'you will not miss out on free coupons and sample mailings'. It was section 49, 'Leisure Interests' that really caught my eye and preserved the survey from the bin. Book reading, camping etc., is followed predictably by golf, model making and 36 other leisure pursuits. Included, at no.29, is 'Religious Activities'! Well there you have it! If anyone ever doubted what the secular world thinks of religion, it should now be clear. It is a leisure pursuit. The movement towards secularisation which began in the 17th century, was given a name in Victorian times and intensified in the last hundred years, is now complete. Christianity with its Good News of salvation is considered to be nothing more than a leisure activity on a par with golf! The teaching of the Incarnation ('the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us') which places the sacred at the very heart of the secular, is rendered impotent. As an aside, it is interesting to note that the very commercial interests that have produced and promoted the National Shopping Survey are the same that will whip up consumers to a spending spree and a fever of excitement about Christmas.

For the Christian the Incarnation is at the centre of their beliefs, just as her, or his, religion is at the very centre of life, giving it meaning and purpose. The Incarnation is not some historical event of 2,000 years ago but a living, daily, reality placing the sacred at the very heart of the secular, as the spirit is in the body. The material things of life, for those with the eyes of faith, point the way to the spiritual. 'By virtue of the Incarnation, nothing here below is profane for those who know how to see'.(Teilhard de Chardin). St Thomas Aquinas famously said, 'Grace builds on nature', which can be understood to mean that the visible material things about us can lead us to an understanding of the invisible, the Divine. If the ordinary ingredients of life, like water, oil, bread and wine, that are used in the Sacraments, can open up a way for us to the world of the Spirit, cannot images painted on wood, or plaster, laid out in mosaic or enamelled on metal, do the same? That is certainly the belief of Orthodox Christians. The role of icons and the reverence accorded them can only be understood and appreciated if there is some understanding of the essential meaning of the Incarnation.

The word 'icon' comes from the Greek word for 'image' (eikwv) and can be applied, as it was in the beginning, to a statue, a picture made of mosaic or a drawing scratched on the walls of a catacomb. Over the centuries the word has become more strictly associated with representations painted upon wood, plaster etc., which represent an historical event from Scripture, or a biblical or saintly person. The reader may notice that here, and throughout the book, I scrupulously avoid equating the word 'icon' with 'picture'; this is because what the Western mind and eye understands by 'picture' and what the