The Orthodox Church and its long history of iconography have created a language of theology that potentially teaches us how to love and the quiet surrender that accompanies it. When we witness the faces of women with their trans-like stare, we journey into a deep silence – a meditative silence that allows us to purely experience our own thoughts.

Women in Iconography is 52 page book . Their presence my testimonial to their witness to the divine, even as we are witness today.

42 plates are included in the collection. The work of the Estano, (repouse) Hand tooled Pewter, was done by my husband, Valentin Gomez as we work as a team here in Mexico.

The pewter or silver work you find on ancient icons were designed to protect and preserve the image as they traveled from place to place and in ancient time into battle. Icons see us as we see them.

To see more women in iconography will require a mysterious detachment and surrender to the imagined greatness that the female mind presents. As Christ is spirit made flesh, the female presence in the Mother Mary gives birth to a feminine spirit.

As a result of our physical birth, we too, like Jesus exist in the realms of both flesh and spirit. We create flesh out of thought, and in our fleshly existence we have that miraculous ability to experience spirit.

With this collection, I have sought to understand what we are as women followers, and hope to capture the great mystery of being female. My intention is to present these images, to draw attention to the relationship between the viewer and Christ.

Orthodox iconography, is not static, it has imagery as we explore our historical relationship with Jesus Christ. The technique is egg tempera, the same technique used for iconography over the last 1,500 years.

The medium is egg yolk mixed with fine ground stone pigments from around the world. The process is slow and meditative, allowing time for reflection while the paint dries.

Each layer has its own prayerful significance, from light to dark and form and color. Each aspect of the icon image has its own corresponding meaning to hold true to this evolving language.

The viewer enters into an unspoken communication of honesty and understanding, respect and responsibility, knowledge and acceptance, pride and joy and love as you gaze at an image. While gazing at these contemporary examples, I invite you to not only reflect on the lives of Christian women, but also to let your heart open to all that has yet to be documented.

about these women and their history. Some of the images and ideas were inspired icons based on historical and traditional master works.

The paintings are my own versions at times changing the landscape, style, color, or symbols while keeping the message. Mary Jane Miller is a passionate artist, designer, teacher, and author, Miller’s website, sanmiguelicons.

com, offers detailed information and resources for contemporary icon collectors and students. In her blog, San Miguel Icons, Miller shares wide-ranging, stimulating observations on faith, Christianity, prayer, and painting techniques, blending historical content and personal insights to arrive at contemporary conclusions about belief and Byzantine style iconography.

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