Why Mary is at the center of the Ascension icon

One of the biggest differences between Western and Eastern depictions of the Ascension of Jesus is the place of Mary in these images.

Some Western painters depicted Mary included in the group watching Jesus ascend into Heaven, but many did not. In most cases in Western iconography, Mary is off to the side as part of the group. This is due in part to the fact that Mary is not directly mentioned in the biblical account of Christ's ascension. She could have been there, but there is no verse saying that she was.

In the East, however, Mary is centrally located in the icon and is located directly below Jesus, putting her in a much more visible role in the scene that is unfolding.

What is the symbolism behind that?

Mary, the Theotokos, is placed in the middle of the icon very deliberately, and she acts as a link between the top of the icon and the bottom.

The top of the icon is clearly Heaven, as Jesus is being raised on high and is surrounded by angels. He is also depicted within a mandorla (a full-body halo), which is an artistic way to show his divinity and to delineate that his movement is outside of earth.

The bottom half of the icon is meant to be a representation of earth, as it includes the trees of the Mount of Olives, rocks, and the group of apostles.

Mary is the link between the two worlds, Heaven and earth, as she is that unique individual who was born without sin and who bore divinity within her womb.

She also represents the Church as a whole, looking up into the sky as Jesus ascends into Heaven, waiting in hopeful expectation of his return at the end of time.

(Read the Pope's general audience address about Mary as the model of the Church, here.)

Another interesting feature is how Mary is at peace, while the apostles are thrown into confusion. She was the one who had the strongest faith in Jesus and who was not frightened by his leaving. She is also in a stance of prayer, highlighting her ability to treasure all of these things in her heart.

Last of all this icon prepares us for the Pentecost icon, as it is in a similar composition, with Mary at the center and the apostles surrounding her.

The icon is rich in meaning and can help us enter into the biblical event, contemplating with Mary what this means for us and the Church.