The Lesser Lion depicts Jesus Christ, God the Son. It lies between the Great Lion — the image of God the Father — and the Great Flock, the Church of God. Thus, the very picture of the sky shows the way: the Church comes to the Father through the Son. Next to the Lesser Lion is the Lynx with the star Alsciaukat — 'Thorn', pointing to the sufferings of Christ. The way to the Father was opened through the wounded and crucified Son of God: 'No one comes to the Father except through Me.'
Full interpretation
Verifiable historical, etymological and topographical statements are accompanied by sources. The theological conclusions are the project’s interpretation according to its published methodology.
Next to the great constellation of the Lion lies the Lesser Lion. In the overall biblical picture of the sky, these two Lions show the Father and the Son: the Great Lion — God the Father, the Lesser Lion — God the Son, Jesus Christ.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The position of the Lesser Lion is especially important. Between the Great Bear — the Great Flock, the Church of God — and the Great Lion is precisely the Lesser Lion. Therefore the celestial composition shows the main principle of the Gospel: God's people come to the Father only through the Son.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Christ said:
'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.'
This literally corresponds to the arrangement of the figures:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Great Flock → Lesser Lion → Great Lion.
Church → Christ → Father.
The Lesser Lion was defined as a separate constellation much later than the ancient ones — by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. However, its position remarkably continues the already existing biblical picture of the sky. The late separation of the figure does not change the geometry of the stars themselves: between God's flock and the Great Lion there is indeed a region that received the image of the Lesser Lion.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Next to it is another important detail — the constellation Lynx. In this region lies the star Alsciaukat, whose ancient Arabic name comes from aš-šawkat — 'thorn', 'prickle'.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
An even deeper picture emerges: next to the Son is the Thorn.
The way to the Father was opened not simply through the incarnation of the Son, but through His sufferings and sacrifice. Christ was crowned with thorns, wounded, crucified, and pierced. Through His wounds man received reconciliation with God, and through His death a new and living way was opened into God's presence.
Therefore the Lesser Lion shows not only God the Son, but also His unique position in God's plan of salvation. One cannot bypass the Lesser Lion and come directly to the Great Lion; just as it is impossible to bypass Christ and come to the Father.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
It is through the Son that God's Church is born and gathered. It is through His blood that she gains access to God. He is the door for the flock and the only way to the Father.
The heavenly picture forms one Gospel:
Great Flock — the Church. Lesser Lion — the Son of God. Thorn beside Him — His sufferings and sacrifice. Great Lion — the Father.
Through the sufferings of the Son, God's flock receives the way to the Father.
