Saint Mark Chapter 5: Commentary
G.D.O'Bradovich III
June 8, 2015
1
The following icons depict the scene from Saint Mark, chapter 5. The icons are similar and the only obvious difference are the two hills in the background of the second icon,
2
The following icon is a recent adaptation of the scene from the Gospel of Saint Mark. We note that the two men are reduced to one and the swine and sea are shown. The possessed man's torso is covered and we are uncertain why this addition clothing was added, as the version in Saint Mark is clear that the man was naked and the depictions of the Crucifixion are shown without covering the upper body.
The above icon is more faithful to the Biblical version. We propose that the story of the Gadarenes demonic is older than the version of Saint Mark, otherwise the former icons would depict the swine and sea as the third icon does. Orthodox icons are undated and this lack of dating is a subtle indication of the antiquity of the tradition of icons.
3
We were unable to find an explanation for the depiction of two men in the presumably older icons. We deduce that the story of two possessed men, and not one man, is the original story. This version must be older and well established for the tradition of iconography to be consistent in depicting two men. We are unable to offer an explanation as to how the Gospel version was created with only one demoniac. We speculate that the Gospel version was created without reference to, or knowledge of, the icons.
conclusion
Of the two Nativity versions in the Gospels, neither Saint Matthew nor Saint Luke mention Jesus' birth in a cave. However, the Orthodox tradition maintains the cave in iconography. Once again, the Biblical versions of the Nativity must be later than Orthodox tradition and ignorant of Orthodox icons. The three Wise Men are shown to the left of the icon. Judging by the icon, the Orthodox tradition has the Magi arrive shortly after the birth of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Herod has all the children under two years killed (chapter 2, verse 16). We infer that had the Magi arrived near the time of Jesus' birth, Herod would have order the killing of only the newborns and not all children under two years old. The implication from the Gospel account is that the Wise Men did not arrive until much later.
Saint Paul writes to Timothy that " a bishop.. must be ... the husband of one wife...". Today, Orthodox bishops are either celibate or widowed, that is, no wife is present. Clearly, the Epistle to Timothy must either be later than Orthodox tradition, ignorant of Orthodox tradition or opposed to Orthodox tradition.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach their own conclusion.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach their own conclusion.