Feasts & the Holy Family
The Holy Family
After Sister Marie-Paul Farran
ΜΡ ΘΥ · Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωσήφ
- Technique
- Egg tempera and gold leaf on wood
- Status
- Completed · private collection
Why this icon
I wanted to write an icon for my parents, and naturally, I was guided toward the icon of the Holy Family. While many depictions of the Holy Family exist, I was deeply struck and drawn to the version created by Sister Marie-Paul Farran.
I was also particularly moved by Sister Marie-Paul's spiritual motto:
“If your gaze is radiant, you will illuminate all things.”
About this icon
The Holy Family icon, created in 1984 by Sister Marie-Paul Farran of the Benedictine Monastery of the Garden of Olives in Jerusalem, expresses the mystery of the union between God and humanity, as well as the total communion and tenderness shared by Mary and Joseph. It also illustrates the “hidden mystery of Nazareth”: the holiness found in simple, everyday family life. Originally designed for the Équipes Notre-Dame (Teams of Our Lady) movement, it has become a landmark in modern Christian iconography and a source of prayer for many households.
Sister Marie-Paul often noted that the process of writing an icon begins with the application of the darkest pigments and concludes with highlights of white, particularly around the eyes. This technique visually demonstrates that God does not destroy our darkness but transfigures it through His presence.