X. B! (Christ is risen!)
C. I. X! (Glory to Jesus Christ)
Blue a Latinization.
Blue is considered the expected decorative color for the B.V.M. among the local Latins here. During the local �Uniat� period from the turn of the century into the 50�s the Mother of God icons in local iconostas (rood screen) often wore blue robes at the insistence of Westernized clergy. Today I know of no local iconographer who will paint an icon of the Mother of God in blue, unless copying a historic one so executed. Even though the ancient wall mosaics of St. Sophia�s in Kyiv use deep blue Ukrainians use red for her drapery.
When the Basilian nuns came here several years ago from Lviv Ukraine to give a Christmas concert fundraiser, they asked to use local school students for a �vetep� (nativity skit). At rehearsal Mary was draped in red, a visiting �Polish� sister from the Lviv group put up a fuss and had a blue drape made for their nest day performance. Most of the Sunday school teachers and parents considered it a Latinization, frivolous and wasteful.
