WATANI International
The coming three days, starting from tomorrow, mark the fast of Jonah, which usually falls in the month of February even though it has no fixed date since it is linked to the date of Easter.
The capital of the Assyrian Empire in 1270 BC was
It is believed that the Book of Jonah was written in 862BC. It includes the story and the profound prayer of Jonah, and is replete with symbols about Jesus Christ in the tomb following His Crucifixion, and His Resurrection three days later.
The story in mosaic
This story is rarely depicted in icons. A recent icon depicting Jonah is a mosaic that stands in the church of Abu-Seifein in Mohandiseen, Cairo, and was made by the Egyptian artist Ayman Adeeb. The decorative frame of the icon holds several crosses, referring to the bond between the Old and New Testaments. In his icon, Adeeb attempts to capture the moment following the point when the mariners cast Jonah into the sea. We can see the raging sea—symbol of a troubled world—as the ship sails into the horizon and the great fish holds Jonah in its mouth. Adeeb skilfuly depicts Jonah’s submission, manifested in his sad face and folded arms.
…and in tempera
Another icon in the church of St George in Chicago is also by an Egyptian artist, Ermiya al-Qatsha, who used the technique of tempera.
Making use of the language of movement and stillness, Qatsha depicts Jonah as he emerges from the belly of the great fish three days after he was swallowed. On the shore are rocks and the shelter which seems to await Jonah when he comes out.
The movement is manifested in the mouth and tail of the great fish, and in the waves, while the stillness is seen in the hard rocks and the small shelter.
The choice of gold as a backdrop colour is very successful, since it refers to the glory following the pain, hardship and fear of death from which Jonah is rescued. Using cubic formations, Qatsha merges realism with symbolism.