The Virgin Mary: A Celebration of Our Faith: Session 5: Iconography and the Theotokos—Junior Group

Theme Of Lesson:Iconography and the Theotokos
Sub-Theme: The Virigin Mary Gives Us Compassion and Protection

Objectives:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the icons of the Virgin Mary.
• Compare the different iconographic representations of the Theotokos.
• Describe the emotions each icon portrays.
• Recite the Hymn to the Theotokos
  

Resources:

• Bible
• Bible aids
  

Liturgy, Feasts, Hymns

The Hymn to the Theotokos
It is truly fitting to bless you, O Theotokos,
ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God.
More honorable than the Cherubim,
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim:
without defilement you gave birth to God the Word -
true Theotokos,we magnify you!

Icons

• A copy of the icons will be included, as well as the section from The Icon Book.
  

Teacher’s Notes & Discussion-Starter Questions:

• The five icons emphasized may include the Hodigitira or Pointer of the Way; The Elouesa or Loving Kindness (Compassion); the Oranta and the Oranta of the Sign; and the Protectress. Additionally, reading the basic narration of any Theotokos icon is important to teach the children.
• It would be wonderful if on this day, we could give each camper a laminated small icon of the Theotokos with the hymn on the back.
• Older students can relate this Hymn to the Theotokos (From the St. Basil Liturgy) to the various images: “All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace, the assembly of Angels and the race of men. O Sanctified Temple and Rational Paradise! O Glory of Virgins! From you, God was incarnate and became a child, our God before the ages. He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace! Glory to you!”