This icon is more than just a beautiful Christmas piece. It conveys important theological truth as all icons do. Jesus is shown wrapped in swaddling cloths to indicate that he was born to die for us. Two heifers are in the cave to represent being offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the people, and foreshadow the Triumphal Entry as Jesus goes willingly to the cross. The angel in the mountains is shown above the shepherd, telling us the story of how the angel appeared to the shepherds calling them to join in the praise. St. Joseph is shown pondering the mystery, and the three Magi who followed the star so they could worship Jesus Christ can be seen on the left. At the bottom you can see the midwives bathing the Divine Infant.