How long was Jesus' beard?

S

SoulFoodEater

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He must have had a beard, but we never see in our Holy Icons Jesus having a long beard... I find that kind of odd.

Being 33, He must have had a very decent sized beard.

How long was it? I think the icons are not exactly holding true to His actual beard length.

Jesus%20icon.bmp
 

Protoevangel

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He must have had a beard, but we never see in our Holy Icons Jesus having a long beard... I find that kind of odd.

Being 33, He must have had a very decent sized beard.

How long was it? I think the icons are not exactly holding true to His actual beard length.

Jesus%20icon.bmp
Icons aren't supposed to be literal depictions, as if they were portraits or photos.
 
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S

SoulFoodEater

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Hmmm.... I've heard that said before from Fr Hopko, but in this case it wasn't what I was expecting. I think I need to elaborate on my question: Do you think that His beard should have been depicted as being longer? Why do you think they painted His beard short as it is? Are there theological realities to why it is painted so short; if so then what are they?

I think the folks over at Monachos.net would tell me why. Those folks over there are specialists at these kinds of questions. You should check them out sometime.
 
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Knee V

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Hmmm.... I've heard that said before from Fr Hopko, but in this case it wasn't what I was expecting. I think I need to elaborate on my question: Do you think that His beard should have been depicted as being longer? Why do you think they painted His beard short as it is? Are there theological realities to why it is painted so short; if so then what are they?

I think the folks over at Monachos.net would tell me why. Those folks over there are specialists at these kinds of questions. You should check them out sometime.

I have a Monachos account on which I've posted a few times. It's a really good resource.

As to your question about the icons of Christ... I don't know, bro. Some icons have them a little longer than others. But, honestly, I don't think you're going to get all that concrete of an answer.
 
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Protoevangel

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Hmmm.... I've heard that said before from Fr Hopko, but in this case it wasn't what I was expecting. I think I need to elaborate on my question: Do you think that His beard should have been depicted as being longer? Why do you think they painted His beard short as it is? Are there theological realities to why it is painted so short; if so then what are they?
The Holy Mandylion bears a miraculous image of the face of Jesus. The king of Edessa had leprosy and sent for Christ. Christ touched his face to a cloth, and his image miraculously appeared on the cloth. When the king gazed at the image of Jesus, he was healed. Many miracles have followed this cloth, but it is now lost. The replicas, however, all show Christ with a short beard. Who are we to second-guess the image that the Lord Himself left for us?

mandylion_zoom.jpg


I think the folks over at Monachos.net would tell me why. Those folks over there are specialists at these kinds of questions. You should check them out sometime.
Well, maybe you should ask over there, then.
 
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Kristos

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This might be an interesting question. Maybe you should ask it in terms relative length especially for group icons that were obviously painted at the same time so one could assume the differences in the figures was purposeful. For example in the Last Supper, Peter and Andrew seem to always have the longest beards. John and Judas are usually clean shaven. In the case of John, I would assume that this represents youth, but what about Judas? It also seems like Jesus usually has the longest hair...

Let us know what you find out.
 
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