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Since an icon always conveys an inner message, we hope that this little explanation of the Saint Kevin icon will help you to read beneath the surface meaning.

The icon suggests St. Kevin's preference for the life of solitude, penance and prayer of a hermit, and also his affinity with nature and his love for animals and birds.

The well known story of the black bird in his hand is a verbal image of his reverence for creation, while the fawn at St. Kevin's feet is a symbol of his own gentle peaceful nature.

The stole that Kevin wears over his monk's garb, as well as the open books of the scriptures, indicates that Kevin was also an ordained priest called to ministry. To obey that calling he had to give up the peace and poetry of his beloved retreat.

The miracles and marvels recounted in the ancient manuscripts of Kevin's life were very probably parables containing deeper truths, which our early Christian ancestors would have understood.

Some of these are included especially in the borders of the icon.

The Angel, (here taken from The Book of Kells) who plays such a recurring theme in the stories, needs no explanation, and neither does the hand of God who guided every aspect of St. Kevin's life.

The deer recalls the providence of God who through a doe provided milk for a child Kevin had fostered, and at the same time reminds us of the deer in the psalms, who is the image of the soul that yearns for God - the living water.

The salmon again emphasizes for us the care of the Creator who provided for the monks of the nearby monastery, a salmon sufficient for their daily meal. It also recalls that the fish (ICTHUS) is an ancient symbol of the incarnation of Christ.

The cow highlights God's providence, since it is recorded that a white cow brought milk each day to feed the infant Kevin. God rewarding those who are kind to his creatures is symbolized by Kevin's friend the otter retrieving his breviary undamaged from the lake.

This story also teaches that the word of God remains gloriously unaltered, no matter what opposition or storm it encounters.

The fox in the lower left margin symbolized that Kevin's life, as the life of anyone of us, was not, without the slyness of temptation and doubt.

The central figure of Kevin with his hand raised in blessing reassured us of his guidance and help, which in itself is a great symbol of 'God's presence in our lives.

Sr. Aloysius McVeigh R.S.M.

Iconography

The Icon was specially written for the Jubilee Year 2000 by the Irish Iconographer Sr. Aloysius McVeigh R.S.M.