Christ the True Vine 1 Version 1

CHRIST THE TRUE VINE ICON 1

This is an image of a 16th century icon of Christ the True Vine. Christ is depicted at the center of the icon, with various saints of the Church depicted around him. If you look more closely, you will see that they care connected to Christ as branches to a vine. The image is based on a passage from John 15, where Jesus says to his disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”

This SL icon is one of our “standard” or “mute” icons — it is merely a reproduction of an image, as opposed to our “talking” icons, which display quotes from Scripture when touched. Its size and position can be modified, but not the image displayed. Copy and Transfer permissions will depend upon the version of the icon that is purchased.

The image is in public domain, and may be found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_Loza_Istinnaya_ikona.jpg.

THE SOURCE TEXT (John 15:1-17)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants[d] any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

COMMENTARY

This is one of the seven great “I am” passages in John’s Gospel. (Others include “I am the good shepherd” and “I am the light of the world”.). It is also one of a number of botanical metaphors employed by Jesus. It conveys the idea that those who believe in Christ are grafted onto Him and draw their (spiritual) life from Him the way the branches of a vine draw sap from the vine stem. In light of modern biological understanding that the grafted branch is also changed at the level of its DNA, taking on some of the characteristics of the root stock, this is all the more powerful a metaphor for the Christian idea that Christians are being transformed from their fallen, mortal nature into the nature of Christ. But there is also a powerful warning in the passage: this transformation occurs only when the believer “abides” (dwells, stays at home) in Christ. Indeed, a person can be truly alive and receive eternal life only through union with Christ.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ICONS WITH THIS MOTIF

This icon is identified as dating from the 16th century and originating from Athens.

Icons depicting Christ as the True Vine and discussed, along with similar iconic motifs, are discussed here: https://russianicons.wordpress.com/tag/true-vine-icon/

ABOUT US

Windows Into Heaven produces icons for use in Second Life: both “talking” icons and basic or “mute” icons which are simple prim images. We use only images that are in public domain. Our icons are sold at nominal cost, so that they may be widely used. All icons can be edited by the buyer with respect to size and orientation, but the image (and in the case of “talking” icons, the text and script) cannot be edited. Please note the copy/transfer permissions for the particular icon.

Our icons should not be resold in either their original or modified form, though Transfer-enabled icons may be passed along to another user.

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