The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. Since 843, the theme of this religious day focuses on ‘the victory’ of the icons.
What does the Sunday of Orthodoxy signify?
In 843, the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, finally came to an end and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday of Great Lent.
Ever since, the Sunday of Orthodoxy has been commemorated as the “Triumph of Orthodoxy” as icons could be used in churches without strife.
Icon related to the feast day:
The icon related to the Sunday of Orthodoxy features the Virgin Hodegetria, a popular depiction of the Virgin Mary as “Directress” or literally “She who shows the way to God.”
To the left of the icon is Empress Theodora and her son Michael III. To the right of the icon are the Patriarchs Methodios and Tarasios.
The icon is surrounded by the numerous saints who struggled against the Iconoclastic heresy.
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
