The Prophet Micah

The icon depicting the Prophet Micah comes from the iconostasis of an unknown Orthodox church from the Eastern Lemko region, likely taken by displaced persons in 1947. It is one of the five surviving images from the Prophets' Row. In the decoration of Eastern Christian churches, images of prophets have long been featured as intermediaries between God and humans. They foretold the coming of the Saviour, His Incarnation, and the Redemption of mankind. In Ruthenia, with the development of the elaborate icon screen separating the sanctuary from the nave, the figures of the Prophets began to be placed in the top row of the iconostasis, flanking the icons of the Incarnation and the Crucifixion. The Prophet Micah, known from the books of the Old Testament, is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets. He was active in the 8th century BC, warning against idolatry and delivering messianic prophecies In icons, he is depicted with a scroll bearing the text of his prophecy: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:2). 

Teresa Bagińska-Żurawska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3967