Nativity of Christ Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20 December 25 The Virgin Mary is the largest figure in the icon with halo (God’s Grace radiating outwardly), clad in red (humanity) which is predominant over her spirituality as it is with all men, with her hands crossed. She is in a sitting position showing that she bore Christ without pain. The three stars denoting her Virginity before, during and after Christ’s birth are seen on her shoulders and head. The Christ-child lays wrapped in swaddling clothes with the distinctive Trinitarian halo. A donkey and ox (Isaiah 1:3) from the cave in which the manger lay look on as the Star shines its light to guide those who are coming to adore: the angels (upper left), the shepherds who were summoned on the night of His birth by the angels (upper and lower right) and the magi who came twelve days later bearing gold (for His royalty), frankincense (for His priestly office) and myrrh (to anoint Him for burial) on the left side of Christ. Joseph is shown in the lower left being saddened by a disguised Satan who is trying to shake his faith in the miraculous even which has occurred. In the lower center stands the small Tree of Jesse showing Christ’s fulfillment of the prophecy of his human lineage (Isaiah 11:1-2) .