How the Harrowing of Hades is Nested in the Crucifixion
Additional insights to Jonathan Pageau's teaching
The Jonathan Pageau Clips channel posted the section from Jonathan and I’s conversation, the part that I referred to in my recent post. Upon re-watching this section, I wanted to share a few additional images to compliment Jonathan’s amazing insights.
It happens quickly, but Jonathan says that the icon of the Resurrection is nested in a small section of another icon, the Crucifixion. The blood of Christ is flowing down the cross and into a small cave. And in that cave is a skull, the skull of Adam. So the blood of Christ drips onto the skull of Adam.
If we were to zoom into the small cave with the skull and bones beneath the cross (note the blue arrow), the icon of Christ saving the dead Adam would emerge. It’s like a iconographic nested fractal.
In this icon - “the Harrowing of Hades” - Christ obliterates the gates of hell and lifts Adam and Eve, and therefore all of humanity, up out of the grave. Pageau goes on from there…
Today is Good Friday in the Western Christian Church. While we attend to Christ’s Crucifixion on the Cross, let us anticipate Christ’s pillaging of demonic powers taking place beneath the cross. On the surface, death appears to have defeated Christ. But deep down, Christ was demolishing death itself.
Until next time,
Derek