The Authors of the Holy Scriptures Icon - S651

The Holy Scriptures are the books written over the course of some seventeen centuries by men under divine inspiration. This collection of books is divided into two sections:

• the Old Testament, which concerns the time from the creation of the world and the people of God descended from Abraham known as the Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews; and
• the New Testament, which concerns the life and teachings of the Messiah of this nation and the entire world, Jesus Christ, and His chosen Apostles.

Although written by dozens of different authors, these texts were inspired by the same Holy Spirit, and all reveal the story of God's revelation to mankind. The texts are recognized by the Church as having divine authority, and this authority is expressed through the use of the Scripture texts in the Church's worship and teaching.

This monumental icon by the hand of Brian Whirledge was specially commissioned by Legacy Icons in 2024. It contains the 35 known and traditional authors of the Holy Scriptures, from Moses to the Apostles. As some of the authors are disputed or unknown, there are obscured haloes, allowing us to honor and venerate them without knowing their identity for certain.

In the center there stands a royal throne, upon which sits an open Bible. Scripture is an icon of Jesus Christ our God, representing the primary witness to Christian Faith and Tradition. Inscribed in the primary languages of Scripture—Hebrew and Greek—are the words, "In the beginning was the Word," a reference to Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1, proclaiming the Word of God—Jesus Christ—as the Creator of all. The instruments of the Passion (the Cross, Spear, and Sponge) are present, further identifying Christ as the Word of God.

Saints Peter and Paul stand behind the throne, holding a miniature Church. This signifies the Church's authority as the interpretor of Scripture. Its place in the midst of the Apostles and Prophets shows us that all the authors of Scripture, both Old and New Testament, revealed the same message: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

At the top of the icon is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, with His hands outstretched in a gesture of blessing over His faithful ones. This indicates the blessing of God on their writings, and the divine inspiration of their words.

The following saints are depicted in this icon:

• Front row: Apostles Jude (holding the scroll of his epistle), Matthew (holding the book of his gospel), Mark (holding the book of his gospel), Peter (holding the scrolls of his epistles and the Keys of the Kingdom), Paul (holding the scrolls of his epistles), Luke (holding the book of his gospel), John (holding the book of his gospel), and James (holding the scroll of his epistle)
• 2nd row: Prophets Daniel, Ezekiel, Samuel, Joshua, Moses (holding the tablets of the Law), Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, and Hosea
• 3rd row: Prophets Obadiah, Tobit, Jesus ben Sirach, Asaph, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Baruch, and Joel
• 4th row: Prophets Malachi, Zachariah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Jonah, Micah, Habakkuk, Haggai, and Amos
• 5th row (obscured): Other Biblical authors whose identities are unknown or uncertain

Many of the saints depicted are commemorated on their own feast days throughout the year. All the Old Testament Patriarchs and Prophets are commemorated together on the second Sunday before the Nativity (that is, the Sunday between December 11 and 17), and all the Apostles are commemorated together on January 4 and June 30.

Any Christian who reverences the Bible and acknowledges the human-divine cooperation that brought it into being would be sure to treasure this unique icon.

This stunning icon is packed with detail, so we cannot offer it at a size less than Medium.