Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=894536
Merriam Webster – Definition of Madonna
archaic : lady —used as a form of respectful address
obsolete : an Italian lady
virgin maryb : an artistic depiction (as a painting or statue) of the Virgin Mary amorally pure and chaste woman
Origin and Etymology of madonna
Italian, from Old Italian ma donna, literally, my lady
The Black Madonna
There are stories, statues, paintings as well as followers nay worshippers of the Black Madonna. This artistic phenomenon was mostly created in the Byzantine style which would place them being created in the 13th -14th Century in Italy. The Black Madonna is a revered version of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus with dark skin or as black.
The Catholic and Orthodox religions from countries all over the world celebrate this iconic version of Mary and Jesus. From Africa, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cuba, a ton of representations are in France (love to take a tour of just these icons/art), Hungary, Ireland. Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia. Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad, Turkey and the Ukraine, There are many more cultures of people who worship the Black Madonna. Across the Earth among many countries are depictions of this Black Madonna. The particular depiction above is from the Czech., Poland and purportedly was painted by St. Luke, the Evangelist while Mary told him the story about her and Jesus’ relationship. They say she is black because of the soot from the many candles and votives that are lit by devotees and visitors whilst praying or asking for protection. For whatever reason she is dark-skinned, it does not seem to matter to the many devotees who venerate her image, being in stone, wood or in a painting.
The Mary’s and The Black Madonna
The popular book The DaVinci Code brought art as a means to communicate and portray not just beauty but messages of defiances to others who understood that messages that were being conveyed. There were also clearly personal messages and feelings that were conveyed and must be pondered in Leonardo’s paintings of the Madonna, Christ and John the Baptist. But that in clearly another story in the story. There are several references to “Mary” mentioned in the Bible. Why are so many of them dark-skinned in so many countries across the world? Is it truly just the soot from candles and votives (and then called black) or was she purposely depicted with dark skin for some other reason? Is it indeed the same Mary with associate with the Virgin Mary? Was there another Mary who may have been dark-skinned or black? This could indicate another blood line or at least more to the story than is told. Another visitation or immaculate conception. Or is it just a case of the people creating an iconic figure who resembles their people? According to Mary and Luke, the Angel Gabriel came to Mary with a message:
Luke 1:28 “And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
Luke 1:42 “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Tags: Kindness, Free Will, secret, Love Angels, mary, black, Light, PowerinWords, virgin, Women, poland, italy, Woman, prayers, madonna, SolomonKeys
Categories: The Feminine
