Finishing: OZHIVKI

And right about now you're asking, "How do you pronounce that?"
Oh-jeev-kee

These are the "life-giving" lines. They accentuate the life of an object. And represent that uncreated light of God. You can see mine in the garments of the three persons, and also around the nimbi of their heads. Sometimes these are incorporated on the face or hands, but since I am using a specific icon to draw from which do not have them on the flesh, I am following suit. When incorporated on the face or hands, they generally occur in twos or threes. They are the tiniest "whispers" of paint with the smallest brush you have.

This completes the painting portion of making this icon. Andrei Rublev painted this icon to hang over the tomb of St. Sergius of Radonezh, a dear friend and brother theologian of Rublev's.  When I think about finishing what seems to me, a huge task, I am reminded of what a masterpiece this was for Rublev. And it has sustained as that such masterpiece in the eyes of persons well beyond himself. Though, I can not imagine Rublev writing this icon out of a yearning for it to be a masterpiece, but instead, an act of devotion and offering to God for the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
These "life-giving" lines stir my soul for the things that we give our lives to, the people we care about, the offerings we extend, and the God we serve. A life worthy of the calling. May that life be lived through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessed be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

We share each other's woes
our mutual burdens bear:
and often for each other flow
the sympathizing tear.

Before our Father's throne,
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares

When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.

By John Fawcett