Mary’s arms aren’t being depicted as “being around the altar” in those icons. The altar itself is between the rear wall (and the icon) and the iconostasis. In the icon, she’s holding her arms to present Jesus Christ to the World.
14 posted on 11/30/2008 1:44:09 PM PST by FormerLib
(Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
