Kourion Complex Palace (Mosaics) Fales, c. 1955 (1 of 2)De C. Fales (probably)

61

The Ktisis panel is to the west of this room (42). Ktisis is mentioned specifically twice in the prayer which begins [handwritten: Μέγας εἶ Κύριε] and which prayer is part of both the celebration of the Epiphany and the [handwritten: rite] of baptism. [handwritten: 416]

Handwritten: τῷ ὁ κράτει συνεχεῖς τὴν κτίσιν, καὶ τῷ 'ε

Handwritten: προνοίᾳ διαικεῖς τὸν κόσμον. Σὺ εἶ ἐκ τεσσάρων

Handwritten: ςτοιχείων τὴν κτίσιν συνήρμοσας, τέτρασιν καιροῖς

Handwritten: τὸν κύκλον τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐστεφάνωσας

and [handwritten: πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις ὑμνεῖ ἐπιφάνειά.] [handwritten: 6]

The collocation in one sentence of [handwritten: κτίσις] and the calendar [handwritten: 417] suggests the meaning of [handwritten: that κτίσις] as a symbol of eternal life.

There are many echoes of the theme of χρίσμα eternal life in

Handwritten: 418 Χρίσμα; 419 ἀφθαρσίας

Handwritten: 418 Ζωὴν ζωῆς, ἐν τῷ ἀφθαρσίας, χρίσμα

the rite of baptism, [handwritten: πηγὴ ζωῆς] [handwritten: 420, πηγή.]

· The service as preserved in one tradition explains the anointing of the ears with myrrh- a [handwritten: xx] ceremony common to [handwritten: xx] the Greek rites -as [handwritten: Χρίσμα μετοχῆς]

Handwritten: ζωῆς ἀιωνίας. 421

The partridge in the middle of the south panel of the [handwritten: 422] two middle xxxxxx panels was, also, probably connected with this rite. The [handwritten: last] next to the last act of the ceremony of baptism was the anointing with myrrh of the chest. When this was accomplished, Cyril of Jerusalem relates [handwritten: ὡς] [handwritten: ὡς γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα καὶ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐπὶ φοίτησιν, ἐξῆλθων {hw: 423]}