Last year in June I had to drive to Schiphol Airport to collect my aunt who came back from a trip to Odessa [Ukraine]. She is part of a group of artists who paint Russian icons and the trip was organised by her teacher, a nun. It was her first time trip on her own and I promised I would pick her up and bring her back home all the way up north. Every week the group meets up to continue painting their icon. The technique that is used is quite an intensive one, and could take weeks of preparation on specially prepared wooden panels.

© Matthias Kabel An Iconostasis

At some point my aunt told me she would love to paint one for me and asked me to think about what I would like to have painted. She had a Madonna with child in mind but somehow it didn’t really make sense… She asked me again in April when I was going through a rough time and while we were on the phone I had this image in my head all of a sudden, a holy person who was slaying a dragon, lots of gold and lots of reds… I had no idea who it was or why I had that image in my head. I told my aunt what I saw and she would try to find it in a book about Russian icons that I gave her in February. I told her I would look online, so I did and guess what I found out…

This is the image that came to me

I was talking about Saint Michaël… I found the above image of him online, the one that I had in mind, the one where he was pictured slaying the dragon… But the most interesting thing is yet to come: I found out what he represents, why he had ‘choosen’ me. Symbolism: Archangel Michaël is the fighter of light par excellence, who succeeds against the darkness of evil forces. In his icons, he holds a balance that weighs people’s deeds on Judgement Day, as well as a sword, with the help of which he defeats Satan and the forces of darkness. Often he is represented defeating a dragon.

Spiritual meaning: we can ask Archangel Michaël to help us control and overcome the negative tendencies that still exist in our being. Anytime we feel overwhelmed by events, or when life situations seem to develop relentlessly, he can help us have a more elevated, more spiritual and wiser view upon our life. His mission is to guide and protect us from injustice and to help us open our beings towards what is eternal and immortal. We can ask him to help us in any situation when we feel overwhelmed or alone and we need help.

So yesterday I received another package from the postman -yes I am spoiled this week!- a beautiful painting from the Archangel Michaël, an icon painted by my aunt on a wooden panel with all shades of red, yellow, blue and gold… She did an amazing job! The original is a Russian icon and the dragon is replaced by Satan. It’s a true work of art and I’m really happy with it. Below you can see what it looks like.

Archangel Michaël painted by my aunt