What does back tattoo mean? Orthodox icon on the chest Mother of God tattoo on the back

Each person seeks to express himself: someone finds certain hobbies for himself, and someone makes unusual Virgin Mary came to us from the underworld and is known to this day. To find out its meaning, you must first study this article.

Meaning

The meaning of the Virgin Mary tattoo mainly depends on the person himself. Prisoners who walk around with this tattoo and the faces of other saints explain this by the fact that they live "according to the concepts" that are established in the thieves' world. If a girl fills herself with such a tattoo, then by this she wants to say that she is immaculate. But she is obliged to put it not on public display, but on the contrary, only to those with whom she will be close.

An ordinary man who tattoos the Mother of God shows his love for his own mother and respect for her. He also wants to say by this that he is religious and believes in God.

Value in different parts of the body

Russian prisoners usually stuffed it on their back or chest, this immediately indicated that the person had been in prison. If you take a photo as an example, you can immediately see that today it is being made in the same place.

A tattoo of the Virgin Mary can be a protection and serve as a talisman if it is stuffed on the arm or shoulder. But you can find a pattern on the neck.

In the modern world, it can be seen on any part of the body, but you need to remember that tattoos with religious overtones below the waist cannot be done.

The color scheme of the tattoo

Most often it is done in black and white - this is the most traditional and classic version. Some may add these colors: red, green and blue. Sometimes the Virgin Mary is found in a blue or turquoise mantle, this symbolizes the purity of the sky and protects the wearer from evil forces.

Tattoos for girls and boys

In girls, tattoo icons can be found extremely rarely. But if she decided to take such a bold step, then it is better to choose a color version. It will be very beautiful if you decorate the image with several flowers at the bottom of the sketch or make a flower frame. This will speak of the tenderness and femininity of the wearer. It is highly not recommended to decorate the image with stars, hearts and the like, it will look out of place on a tattoo of a religious nature.

If we talk about men, then such a tattoo will be very useful, it will tell about the decency and masculinity of a person. To make the drawing look more like a man's, it will be beautiful to decorate it with Latin inscriptions.

What style to get a tattoo

One of the most popular Virgin Mary tattoo styles can be considered Chicano. A feature of this style is the visibility and brightness of the pattern itself. The most popular among Russians was recognized as a tattoo in black and white. Now this style is also used. It is very rare to find in such areas as graphics, new school or neo-traditional. Tattoos in these styles are very frivolous.

At this time, the tattoo of the Virgin Mary is not considered a prison. It serves as a regular decoration for the body. Each person sees his own meaning in this tattoo, chooses according to his taste and at his discretion. It says nothing about your faith or lack of it.

Often we see jewelry for sale - miniature icons on the chest of the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel, various saints. These are the so-called patterns. Let's see what it is for and what it means. The tradition of wearing an Orthodox icon on the chest in Rus' has existed for a long time. In ancient times, pilgrims, setting off on a long journey, pinned holy icons on their chests, believing that the saints depicted on them would additionally protect them from troubles and illnesses on the road.

Gradually, the Christian icon on the chest was transformed into a small icon. Today, when buying a small icon, we, like our ancestors many centuries ago, believe that it will protect us, that is, serve as the so-called Orthodox amulet. By wearing a Russian Orthodox icon on our chest, we also express our special love and respect for those who are depicted on it, in difficult times we turn to them with prayer and, according to our faith, the Lord sends support, help or comfort. In an Orthodox church, during Divine Services, we can see that bishops (bishops, archbishops) also wear holy icons on their chests. They call it panagia.

How to wear a holy icon on the chest?

The priest blesses the wearing of an Orthodox icon on the chest (image). They wear it together with a pectoral cross, it can be on one chain or lace, it can be on separate ones. The icon does not replace the pectoral cross. Unlike the cross, the scapular can be removed if circumstances so require (stay in the hospital, on the beach, allergic to metal). Orthodox Christians wear a cross all their lives, starting from the moment of baptism.

Wearing an icon on the chest is not necessary and depends only on your desire. A personalized icon is a wonderful gift for a birthday, name day, graduation from school or college, and just for no reason. In the Orthodox Church there are no canons regarding the wearing of an icon on the chest, in this matter it all depends on your taste and sense of proportion. Although, of course, you should not hang a whole iconostasis on yourself - it looks unhealthy and tasteless.

What are Orthodox icons on the chest?

The modern jewelry industry offers us a huge assortment of chest icons. They are made of various noble metals - red, white, yellow gold, silver, decorated with precious and semi-precious stones, enamel, pearls. Church icons on the chest are also made of simple metals, wood, and bone. They are carved and cast, made by hand or in a factory way.

Now you can even find icons embroidered with beads on the chest. It is better to buy them in an online store specializing in the sale of church paraphernalia, or in an icon shop. So you will be sure that the image of the Virgin, Guardian Angel or saint on it is correct and canonical. Having bought an icon for the chest in an ordinary jewelry store, bring it to the priest so that he can check the canonicity of the image and consecrate it on the Throne. Embroider a miniature icon with beads - a needlewoman can do it herself.

Church-themed tattoos have always been very popular. If you delve into history, you can see that even pagans applied tattoos of religious significance to their bodies. Our ancestors believed in the meaning of symbols and signs. With the spread of the Christian religion, people began to attach great importance to icons. The icon of the Mother of God has always been considered one of the main ones. Not surprisingly, the image of such a significant church relic began to be in great demand in the art of tattoos.

The history of the appearance of the tattoo Mother of God

The tattoo of the Mother of God appeared soon after the first icon depicting this holy virgin was painted. People painted it on their bodies to protect themselves from the evil eye and evil spirits. But the church has never encouraged adornment of its body, even with drawings of icons. Therefore, gradually the tattoo of the Mother of God lost its relevance. But at the beginning of the 20th century The Mother of God tattoo, like other religious tattoos, was given a second life. It's amazing that they revived the popularity of this type of tattoo in prison. Prisoners used images of holy relics, sacred symbolism and faces of saints to convey secret information. The presence of such a tattoo showed the person's belonging to the prison world.

Did you know? The prisoners stuffed a tattoo of the Mother of God, and with it they noted the number of years spent behind bars.

The meaning of the tattoo Mother of God

The Mother of God tattoo has many meanings. The main thing is a talisman against evil forces and the evil eye. Such a tattoo shows the piety of its owner. The drawing of the Blessed Virgin personifies purity and chastity, and also often shows the repentance of a person. People stuffing such a pattern most often try to atone for their sins in this way. It is similar to the zeal with which philanthropists, who have made a fortune by dishonest means, invest in the construction and restoration of churches. This meaning is carried by a single-color tattoo of a large size, decorating the entire back.

Important! A small image of the Mother of God in an inconspicuous place is usually pricked by believers. Although such piety is very doubtful. After all, the church forbids any tattoos. But the manifestation of faith in all people is expressed in different ways. After all, it is not necessary to go to church and perform all the rites. And carrying the image of the Mother of God always with you is not such a bad idea.

Variations of the Mother of God tattoos

• Tattoo Mother of God and cross meet together quite often. The Holy Mother of God holds in her hands the main attribute of the Christian religion. Such a tattoo has a prison connotation, therefore it is less popular than other sketches of the Mother of God tattoos.
• Tattoo Mother of God in a caricature version is a modern interpretation of a religious tattoo.
• Mother of God and Jesus Christ often side by side on tattoos. The most popular variation is the Mother of God holding the baby Jesus in her arms. This motif was taken from the icon. Usually such a tattoo is stuffed in the form of a square icon or an oval amulet. The second variation is the face of the Most Holy Theotokos looking at Jesus. The two faces may be on the same horizontal line, or they may be placed diagonally. The Mother of God in this version is often depicted from above.
• Tattoo Mother of God on the background of the church has a prison character. Its meaning is interpreted in the same way as just domes in the entire back. Such a tattoo does not carry religious overtones, although it hints at the innocence of its owner. Thus, some prisoners try to express their repentance and want to have the image of the Mother of God always with them.
• Praying Mother of God Tattoo. Usually such a tattoo is done by believers. They choose a small image size that will later be easily hidden under clothing. The image of the Mother of God, as it were, forgives the sins of its owner and protects him from choosing false values ​​and the wrong path in life.
• Grieving Mother of God Tattoo usually done by people who have suffered a loss in their lives. They mourn the departure of a loved one to another world and ask the Most Holy Theotokos to give them the strength to ease their mental anguish. Often, such a tattoo is pricked by young people in memory of their dead parents. Less often, such topics are chosen by guys who have experienced unrequited love. They want to find consolation and support from the Mother of God.

Popular places for tattooing the Mother of God

• Back. If a person does not belong to the prison world, then it is better for him to refrain from depicting religious subjects on his back. Such tattoos cause double associations and will carry a negative connotation. The exceptions are small tattoos of the Mother of God in the area of ​​​​the shoulder blades. Such a tattoo is easy to hide under clothes from prying eyes.
• Fingers. Very often people depict the face of the Blessed Virgin on their fingers. This is considered blasphemy. Thus, only convicts flaunt their faith. The rest prefer to decorate their fingers with mundane tattoos.
• Breast. The image of the Mother of God on the chest is quite acceptable. We can say that this is the best place for such a tattoo. Especially if it is applied in the area of ​​​​the left chest, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe heart. By making such a tattoo, people assume that the holy virgin will help them choose the right path, or take it.
• Forearm. Most often two

For prisoners and former prisoners, tattoos play an important role and a special meaning that not everyone understands. A tattoo on the body of a prisoner can tell a lot about the owner: from the number of walkers to the character and status in the criminal world. Nowadays, the concepts of certain tattoos have changed somewhat, and an expert will help us understand all this variety of prison arts.

A tattoo with a pirate is a sign that its wearer has been convicted of robbery. The robbers also wear tattoos with a skull and a dagger. “In addition to the classic prison tattoos (the pirate is one of them), there are those that have come into fashion recently. Inscriptions in foreign languages, aphorisms from French, English, and German are very popular today. Latin is also popular, catchphrases from ancient Greece and ancient Rome,” says the specialist.

“The grin is one of the most popular prison tattoos. Previously, it was interpreted as follows: "He bared his mouth at the Soviet regime." It has not lost its relevance even today and means the rejection of the prison administration. The one who wears such a tattoo, as it were, says: "I consider myself a criminal and I am not going to cooperate."

A prison tattoo with a picture of a bear is a sign of a safecracker, a safecracker. “New criminal tattoos are extremely rare. The only exception I've come across is the image of a syringe. This is a traditional sign of drug addicts. Recently, a fashion has appeared to put next to it the letter designation of a specific drug that a person has used, ”Sidorov notes.

A tattoo with the image of a cat with keys is a sign of an apartment thief ("burglar"). “The thieves' world has its own tattoos. For example, pickpockets used to prick themselves with insects - beetles, bees, cockroaches (J.U.K. - I wish you successful thefts). True, now they have moved away from this practice: it corny gives out pickpockets.

“A rose against the background of a lattice or barbed wire means that the bearer of such a tattoo met his 18 years in prison. Tulip means the same, but at 16 years old. Tattoos of youngsters are called "partaches" and are most often of poor quality. But they account for most of the prison tattoos.

The Virgin and Child (like the crucifix) is a tattoo meaning "My home is a prison." According to Sidorov, tattoos with religious themes (both Christian and Muslim) are now in vogue among prisoners. But political tattoos are gradually fading away.

Thieves' stars are the "legend" of prison tattoos. “Before, thieves' stars were the hallmark of authorities. Now everything has changed: they can be found not only among serious thieves, but also among ordinary prisoners. Their status has fallen somewhat. In general, today the more tattoos a person has, the less importance he has in the zone. People with a lot of tattoos are treated like fools. In the days of the USSR, for example, thieves' stars fought on the collarbones (which meant "I will never put on a shoulder strap") and on my knees ("I will never kneel before the cops"). These were purely ideological, thieves' tattoos. If such stars were beaten by a person who did not belong to the thieves' world, one could answer for this according to concepts. Then, closer to the 90s, many people who had nothing to do with thieves began to beat the famous tattoos, and the stars became less status tattoos. Today there is a prison concept "There is no answer for a tattoo." It means that if someone foolishly stuffed himself with a tattoo with a serious meaning, you don’t need to touch him, you’ll take it from a fool. Although, of course, sometimes such people have to be responsible for their actions,” the expert says.

“Rings are often hit on the “youngster” by prisoners who find themselves in places of deprivation of liberty under the age of 18. They can tell a lot about their owner: for example, a black ring with a white cross says that the prisoner visited the famous St. Petersburg "Crosses". And a black ring with a white diagonal is a sign that the owner went through the "youngster". There are dozens of varieties of such tattoos. By the way, a no less popular tattoo is “One in four walls” (five dots between the thumb and forefinger), denoting a prisoner, ”says Sidorov.

A sailboat (like a galloping deer) is a symbol of escape. It means that the wearer of the tattoo strives for freedom. “A huge number of plots of criminal tattoos are taken from English marine tattoos. The sailboat is one of them."

“The temple with domes is one of the most common prison tattoos. The number of domes indicates the number of "imprisonments". When the term is fully served, a cross appears on the dome. A tattoo with domes without crosses in a person at large immediately raises many questions; people "in the know" will definitely look at him with suspicion.

Shoulder straps or epaulettes on the shoulders of convicts are adapted into ZK tattoos from pre-revolutionary military uniforms and indicate a negative attitude towards the justice system. Epaulettes are worn by high-ranking criminals, who may also have a corresponding nickname such as "Big" or "Colonel". Shoulder straps with three small stars or skulls stand for: “I am not a camp slave, no one can force me to work”, “I am a prisoner, but I was born free”, “I am a zone colonel - I will not get my hands dirty with a wheelbarrow”, “ The strong wins - the weak dies”, “Horses die from work”.

The inscription on the knuckles is a tattoo of the female name Nadia. The “ring” on the index finger means: “Trust no one but yourself”, “Kid” is one of the most privileged criminal tattoos among prisoners of the penitentiary. On the middle finger there is a tattoo of pickpockets - "the cross of thieves". Ring finger: “Served in full”, “From beginning to end”, “Served without the right to parole”: the prisoner served a full term in the colony, without transferring to a free settlement on parole. The little finger tattoo: "Dark Life" indicates that the wearer spent a lot of time in the punishment cell. A skull and crossbones, a pistol, a knife and the letter "K" (Iller - ed.) stand for the killer.

Rings in a criminal tattoo and their meaning

The ring is a very informative type of ZK-tattoo, it transmits in encrypted form information about what type of crime the offender ended up in places of deprivation of liberty, on what regimes he served his sentence, how he behaved in the "zone" (was a "refusenik" or worked honestly, behaved in a disciplined manner or violated the regime, was in a group of positive-minded convicts or was part of a "denial", collaborated or was at enmity with the administration, etc.). From the rings, you can learn about the position of the criminal in the criminal hierarchy, about his value orientations and behavioral attitudes.

1. Was convicted (or judged) The tattoo is applied to the index finger.
2. Thief Tattoo is applied on the thumb.
3. Dissatisfied with the verdict Applied to the ring finger.
4. Passage through the "crosses" and the "zone" (usually for those convicted more than once).
5. "Hello thieves"
6. "Mokrushnik", tried under Art. 102 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR.
7. Card player, swindler
8. Ring of minors: authority, was twice in prison.
9. Passage through the Muslim zone With a cross - through crosses (?).
10. "Anarchy" - a ring, applied by convicts who are negatively disposed towards the regime and discipline.
11. A symbol of power, authority among criminals.
12. Combined ring, usually only for an authoritative convict.
13. "Destroyed Youth" He was convicted as a minor.
14. "Death to the mounds"
15. "The third walker in the zone" (?).
16. Kumovskaya ring
17. Judged (or judged) by a minor (Two flowers on one branch - a champion of bloody revenge.)
18. Passed the "crosses"
19. Was judged
20. "Anarchy" or conviction under Art. 146 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR
21. Women's ring - "denied", I will not give a hand to the cop.
22. a) in men: beat activists; b) in women: I devote my life to women. Kobls are tattooed (see the dictionary of slang words and expressions).
23. In the circle of thieves (female ring).
24. Ring of underage girls: "They are not judged."

An Orthodox icon is a pictorial representation of the images of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Trinity, the Angelic Forces, saints and religious events, which are painted in the most accurate icon-painting traditions and consecrated according to the church order. Christians have been treating these shrines with special understanding and reverence for many centuries, therefore, in every Orthodox home there are different types of holy icons. have a special purpose.

The icon in the house serves for home prayers, the icon on the chest as a small icon is designed so that the holy image is always with the believer and can protect him from danger. In recent years, it has become a wonderful tradition to give gifts in the form of Orthodox icons to loved ones, and icons embroidered with beads and made of precious materials for wearing small icons on the chest have become the most popular among them.

Icon shops at church churches, workshops for making icons, Orthodox online stores offer to buy a wide range of Orthodox icons made in different styles and from different materials. An icon made of precious metal worn on the chest will not only become a strong amulet for its owner, but will also look like a wonderful piece of jewelry.

Icons on the chest in the form of a tattoo

Not the last place among the Orthodox people is occupied by all kinds of interpretations of the images of holy images. One of the iconographic trends was icon tattoos on the chest and other parts of the body. This is an ancient type of image of saints on the body, which originates from ancient times from different religions: Sharia, Buddhism and Christianity. Many believers seek to decorate their body with tattoos with religious symbols in order to become closer to God. These images have reached the highest level, which attracts especially young people.

Sometimes even a small religious plot of the icon on the chest is applied within a week. The image of a saint's tattoo on the body has a symbolic meaning, and all the gestures and position of the figure have a spiritual meaning. A high forehead means spiritual wisdom, big eyes - penetration into Divine secrets, elongated fingers - spiritual nobility and purity, hands raised to heaven - prayer, and a slightly inclined figure - humility and obedience.