Our Lady of Mariapocs, part 6

I was able to paint again, after a few days of working late.  All I added in this icon was the black border, but it is amazing how much a simple solid border can bring the colors together in an icon or a painting.
Black is an amazing color in religious art.  Although it sometimes invokes symbolism of death and ignorance (particularly in Western art), in iconography black is more often used to illustrate that God is unfathomable.  For example, the icons of the Transfiguration or the Nativity of Christ show Christ surrounded by a black sphere, diamond, or almond shape (there are other shapes used as well). 
As a border, of course, the color black "merely" indicates the power and greatness of the persons in the image.  Which is quite enough.  Who is more powerful and great than the awesome God, our Beloved Jesus Christ?  We believe that Christ's mother has a very real share in this power and glory, so much so that we pray to her to intercede for us to her Son.  And we are always answered, even if that answer is no, and that something better is yet to come.