#2
Eggs of resurrection—
Mary Magdalene’s egg turns blood red—
Offering eggs to the dead—
The shroud appears on eggs—
White house Easter Egg Roll
Additionally, the chicken’s egg is a holy symbol emblematic of purity, cyclic renewal and resurrection. The use of eggs as a spiritual symbol extends back thousands of years to ancient Egypt. According to Christian tradition, Mary Magdalene brought a basket of boiled white eggs with her as a meal when she visited the tomb of Jesus. When she arrived, she found the huge stone which sealed the tomb had been set aside, as Jesus had been resurrected. She looked into her basket to find that all the eggs had turned bright red. Later she went to Rome to meet with Emperor Tiberius Caesar to proclaim the resurrection to him. Again she brought along a white egg. The emperor, mocking her, said that Jesus had no more risen than the egg in her hand was red. Immediately, the egg turned deep blood red, as a sign from God. That is how colored eggs became associated with Easter celebrations. Traditionally, Easter eggs that are dyed red represent the blood of Christ, with the hard shell of the egg symbolizing the sealed Tomb of Christ. The cracking of the egg relates to his resurrection from the dead. On Easter, in Eastern Orthodox churches, golden eggs are carefully hung on the icon wall. The Holy Face from the Shroud of Turin often appears on Easter eggs in the Russian Orthodox tradition. In some regions, Easter eggs are even offered to the dead, as blessed eggs are brought to the cemetery where the paschal greeting, “Christ has risen,” is proclaimed to the dearly departed. A corresponding ceremony called the White House Easter Egg Roll is performed annually in Washington, D.C.
Jeffrey Vallance Easter Tabernacle (2018)
Found objects 20 x 16 x 12 inches