<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0">Hello Rosina,<BR>
Although I am an Episcopalian and not a Catholic I, too, was charmed by St.Catherine's Sinaitic icon of The Presentation in the Temple.<BR>
The figure holding the infant Christ, by the way, is St. Symeon, and between him and the Virgin there appear symbolically closed Sanctuary doors and an altar with ciborium.<BR>
The inscriptions at the bottom say that the icon was painted by Damaskinos in 1571, but since the icon is not characteristic of Damaskinos' work there is some doubt about its authorship.<BR>
In 1988 Maria Constantodauke-Kitromelidou wrote an extensive dissertation on Post-Bizantine icons which the Athens University has made available. She writes that the luminosity of the faces in the Presentation icon are more reminiscent of figures by Theophanes, and believes that he may have been the actual author. She also points out inconsistencies between the lettering of the inscriptions on the front of the icon and the Greek Cross and letters on its back.<BR>
Commencing on volume II, page 457, she writes about the Presentation icon for which she expresses a deep emotional admiration.<BR>
Regards,<BR>
Liz </FONT></HTML>