Orthodox Byzantine Icons of the Lord

[Mayda]

Dear Beloved in Jesus,

In this topic, I will explain the Orthodox Byzantine Icons of the Lord

using skete.com website for orthodox Icons.

keep me in your prayers

:sm-ool-02:

[Mayda]

Christ Blessing

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/17.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late) Heritage: Greek

Christ blesses us with His right hand, His fingers formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC," the abbreviation in Greek for Jesus Christ, and He holds in His left arm a jewel-studded Book of the Gospels. From the prototype of the first icon of Christ, miraculously made by the Saviour Himself, He is traditionally shown with a short beard, and having long dark brown hair with reddish highlights, parted in the middle. His expression is serious but merciful, to evoke from us a serious and loving response, for the Truth is both sober and yet hopeful for us.

Christ is shown with an outer blue robe, symbolizing the Humanity that He put on at His Incarnation, and with an inner red robe, representing His Divinity that remains for all eternity. In the cross in the nimbus or halo around His head are the Greek letters for "I AM" to remind us that although Incarnate in time, Jesus Christ is God before the ages, even before Abraham, and He is the same God Who spoke with Moses face to face. May we frequently ask His Blessing upon all of our works, feelings, and thoughts, so that we may be blessed indeed

[Mayda]

Christ the Prisoner


http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/16.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)


Date: 20th c. (Late) Heritage: Greek

The original of this icon helps The Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry of Minnesota’s work touch the hearts of Christ’s fellow prisoners. The night before His Crucifixion, Christ was in a local prison, and is shown here as the Nymphios, or the Bride-groom, Whom we will all meet if we come to His Banquet in the Kingdom. The Church’s tradition is that the robes Christ wears in Glory are resplendent with the humility of His humiliation, mocking, beating, and Death on the Cross, and that is why the Nymphios icon is venerated on the first three days of Holy Week. At times we may forget that Christ came to teach us by His great example how to live a life filled with meekness, forgiveness, and humility.

We see Christ bound at the hands, and He holds the reed of the soldiers’ derision as a scepter, the Crown of Thorns as His wreath of victory, His opened robe as the raiment of transparent humility, and His humble look as a regal demeanor of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Whose Kingdom shall never end. Here is that Most Holy Peace that passeth understanding in visible form right before us! May we join Him in meekness today

[Mayda]

Christ the Saviour (Russian)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/15.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late) Heritage: Greek

Christ is blessing with His right hand, His fingers formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC", the Greek abbreviation for "Jesus Christ". His blessing hand is turned inward as if to remind us that He is the Great Blessing, granting us an opportunity to repent and inherit eternal life. He is holding a Book of the Gospels in His left arm. It is opened to the passages reading "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge with righteous judgement. (John 7:24) For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged." (Matthew 7:2)

Christ is traditionally shown with a short beard and long dark hair parted in the middle. His expression is serious, but not without mercy. Christ's outer robe is blue, to symbolize His humanity which he put on in His Incarnation, and His inner robe is red, to represent His divinity that He always was in eternity.

Christ Our God is the Saviour of all men who would be saved and who acknowledge their sinfulness, their need to be saved in truth by their own cooperation, and thus truly repent "for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

[Mayda]

Nymphios ("Bridegroom") (Half)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/13.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)


Nymphios ("Bridegroom") (Full)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/14.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late). Heritage: Greek


As a husband is to his wife so is Jesus Christ to His Church. His Crucifixion is His marital vow and His mockery and beating His wedding feast. The Bridegroom icon shows Christ stripped of His garments and clothed in a scarlet robe to mock Him. He wears a crown of thorns, causing blood to flow from the wounds. A reed is placed in His bound hands as a scepter.

In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", to remind us that Christ was the All-Powerful God who freely chose to experience pain and death. For the first three days of Holy Week this icon is placed prominently in the Church to remind us of Christ's great love and great suffering. Like the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins we await the Bridegroom's arrival and sing, "Behold, the Bridegroom, cometh at midnight. And Blessed is the servant whom He shall find awake. But He whom He shall find neglectful is verily unworthy. Beware therefore my soul, less thou fallest into deep slumber and the door of the Kingdom be closed against thee and thou be delivered unto death. But be thou wakeful crying, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou.’" (from the Bridegroom Matins

[Mayda]

Great High Priest

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/12.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late). Heritage: Greek

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16) Christ, the Infinite and Unapproachable God, was incarnate to make Himself approachable and knowable through the ardent love of His followers and believers. It is His weakness and self-emptying “kenosis” while still Almighty and His willingness to suffer for our sake that touches the heart and mind to turn to Him for help in our weakness.

This type of icon depicts Christ wearing the robes of a bishop; the crown (miter) and stole (omofor or omophorion) decorated with crosses. Christ, the Great High Priest of His Church on earth, is shown holding an open Gospel Book in His left hand and blessing with His right hand. The fingers of His hand form the Greek letters "IC XC", the abbreviation for "Jesus Christ"

[Mayda]

Pantocrator (Sinai)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/11.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 6th c. Heritage: Byzantine

Pantocrator" is the Greek word meaning "Ruler of All", and many icons of Christ are modeled after this original. Christ is traditionally shown with a short beard and long dark brown hair parted in the middle. Often in the earliest icons there can be some naturalistic elements such as visible shadow and regular skin tones even though the medium of icons always is somewhat abstract, trying to show in artistic forms the revelation of all things as they will appear at the end of chronological time. In this icon Christ’s nose, eyes, and neck are not merely naturalistic.

The Saviour has a serious and intent look, like the King of All looking upon His people. This detailed view of Christ's face shows a dignity on one side and a different arching of the eyebrows causing enlivenment on the other. The different impressions strike a harmony between His divine and human natures. Worked in an encaustic or a wax-melting technique, this great treasure from the sixth century is one of the earliest icons of Christ still in existence. It is preserved at St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai by the climate and lack of iconoclast persecution in that area

[Mayda]

Christ Enthroned

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/10.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 17th c. (Mid) Heritage: Cretan
L ocation: Byzantine Museum, Athens, Greece

The Lord Almighty sits on a throne as the Ruler of the universe, and in His left hand He holds an opened Gospel. With His right hand He blesses with the priestly blessing, the fingers of His hand forming the Greek letters "IC XC", which is the abbreviation for "Jesus Christ". In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", for this is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelation (1:8), "I am Alpha and Omega...saith the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is To Come, the Almighty." On the upper part of the throne are symbolically represented the Four Evangelists: Matthew as a young man, Mark as a lion, Luke as an ox, and John as an eagle. All four have wings to portray their angelic nature and all carry Gospel books, for they proclaimed the Good News to the whole world through the Gospels that they have written.

It is important to note that often when we focus on Christ’s amazing love for all creation, and His great condescension and humility in coming to us so approachably, we can lose sight of His Divinity, which was and is always present for those who see with sober sight and awesome awareness. May we see this also!

[Mayda]

Reclining Child Jesus

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/9.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late). Style: Anapeson. Heritage: Greek

The Young Child is not sitting or lying down, but reclining to represent that He is not only the Great God or just a mere man, but simultaneously contains both Divine and human natures. Jesus' youth is portrayed by the lack of a beard, but the Divine Infant's facial features are those of an adult to portray that although He was born on earth as a little baby, He was always consciously the All-Knowing God. In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM" to remind us that this Infant is the God Before Time and is also the Peace of the World. In His left hand He hold a prophet's scroll to symbolize that He is the fulfillment of the prophets' words.

The “Anapeson”, or the Reclining Child Jesus on a couch, is a version of the famous 14th century fresco by Manual Panselinos, the foremost representative of the Macedonian school of iconography. This theme is inspired by Genesis 49:9 “Judah is a lion’s whelp...he stooped down, he couched as a lion...” which is considered as a prophecy of Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This particular icon is traditionally found on the west wall when present in an Orthodox temple

[Mayda]

Holy Napkin

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/8.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late). Style: Holy Napkin. Heritage: Greek
L ocation: St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos

The Holy Napkin, or the icon “Not Made By Hands”, is the very first icon ever made, and it was made in a miraculous way by Christ. King Abgar of Edessa, from his kingdom neighboring Israel, had sent his court artist to invite Christ to come to Edessa when he heard that the Lord was being persecuted in Israel. The artist was also asked to bring back a portrait of Christ, because the king, who had leprosy, felt that if he could only see the likeness of this Man that he had heard so much of, that he would be made well. The artist tried many times to capture His Face, but was unable, so the Lord Who loves man, knowing all things, took a cloth and brought it to His Face, and a true likeness was impressed on the cloth, which was sent to King Abgar and healed him. Thus this first icon was not made by human hands.

Later the Apostle Jude Thaddeus was sent to preach to this kingdom, and they converted to become one of the first Christian states. The original Holy Napkin cloth was kept in Edessa until 944 when it was brought to Constantinople, and it is the pattern from which all subsequent icons of Christ are made

[Mayda]

Christ Enthroned

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/7.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late) Style: Enthroned. Heritage: Greek

The Lord Almighty sits on a throne as the Ruler of the universe, and in His left hand He holds an opened Gospel. With His right hand He blesses with the priest's blessing, the fingers of His hand forming the Greek letters "IC XC", which is the abbreviation for "Jesus Christ". In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", for this is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelation (1:8), "I am Alpha and Omega...saith the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is To Come, the Almighty."

This is an example of a modern rendition of a traditional depiction of Christ as He will appear at the end of time, for icons are a revelation of theology and a vision of eternity made manifest for us as a foretaste “before that great and notable day of the Lord come.” (Acts 2:20) Because Christ is Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet which St. John used when he wrote his Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation, He always stands at the beginning and end of everything, bearing witness to how we choose to respond to His call to holiness. It is up to us to choose well, and cooperate with His Will to sanctify His People

[Mayda]

Christ The Life-Giver

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/6.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late) Heritage: Greek
L ocation: Theotokos Monastery, Myreleou, Greece

Christ blesses us with His right hand, His fingers formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC", the abbreviation in Greek for "Jesus Christ". He holds in His left arm a jewel-studded Book of the Gospel. His blessing hand is turned inward as if to remind us that He is the Great Blessing, granting us to receive this incalculable gift: the opportunity to repent and inherit eternal life.

From the prototype of the first icon of Christ, miraculously made by the Saviour Himself, He is traditionally shown with a short beard and having long dark brown hair with reddish highlights, parted in the middle. Christ is shown with an outer blue robe, symbolizing the Humanity that He put on at His Incarnation, and with an inner red robe, representing His Divinity that remains for all eternity. In the cross, in the nimbus or halo around His head, are the Greek letters for "I AM" to remind us that although Incarnate in time, Jesus Christ is God before the ages, even before Abraham, and He is the same God Who spoke with Moses face to face. This loving Lord calls us to Him, and it is He Who also is the Creator and the Giver of Life

[Mayda]

Christ Enthroned

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/5.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 20th c. (Late) Style: Enthroned. Heritage: Greek
L ocation: St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos

The Lord Almighty sits on a throne as the Ruler of the universe, and in His left hand He holds an opened Gospel. With His right hand He blesses with the priest's blessing, the fingers of His hand forming the Greek letters "IC XC", which is the abbreviation for "Jesus Christ". In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", for this is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelation (1:8), "I am Alpha and Omega...saith the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is To Come, the Almighty."

Orthodox iconography we often see inverse perspective, as is shown in the shape of the throne that Christ sits upon in this icon. This is not lack of understanding of the natural perspective of a distant vanishing point, but to show that we are not mere observers but active participants included in the icon itself.

It is important to note that often when we focus on Christ’s amazing love for all creation, and His great condescension and humility in coming to us so approachably, we can lose sight of His Divinity, which was and is always present for those who see with sober sight and awesome awareness. May we see this also

[Maximos]

Howeeeee ... elmawdoo3 bayento fakhmmmmmmmm :smilie (171):

bass

yarit shi neskha bel3arabi

:smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81):

:sm-ool-01::sm-ool-01::sm-ool-01:


s-ool-302

[Mayda]

Christ Blessing (Theophanes)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/07/4.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 16th c. (Mid). Heritage: Cretan
L ocation: Stavronikita Monastery, Mt. Athos

Christ blesses us with His right hand, His fingers formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC," the abbreviation in Greek for “Jesus Christ”. He holds in His left arm a jewel-studded Book of the Gospels. From the prototype of the first icon of Christ, miraculously made by the Saviour Himself, He is traditionally shown with a short beard and having long dark brown hair with reddish highlights, parted in the middle.

Christ is shown with an outer blue robe, symbolizing the Humanity that He put on at His Incarnation, and with an inner red robe, representing His Divinity that remains for all eternity. In the cross, in the nimbus or halo around His head, are the Greek letters for "I AM" to remind us that although Incarnate in time, Jesus Christ is God before the ages, even before Abraham, and He is the same God Who spoke with Moses face to face.

This icon was painted by the master iconographer Theophanes the Cretan in 1546 and is found with many more of his masterpieces at the Katholikon or main monastery church of Stavronikita Monastery on Mount Athos

[Mayda]

Howeeeee ... elmawdoo3 bayento fakhmmmmmmmm :smilie (171):

bass

yarit shi neskha bel3arabi

:smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81)::smilie (81):

:sm-ool-01::sm-ool-01::sm-ool-01:


s-ool-302


ههههه... قال يعني لأنو القسم بالإنجليزي اجيت كتبت عربي بس بأحرف انجليزية؟؟؟ :sm-ool-06:

حاضر يا سيدي... والموضوع عنجد فخامة لأنه بيوصف كل أيقونة وبيشرحها وانشالله بس أخلص منه نهائياً رح ترجمه للعربي...

صلواتك

:sm-ool-02:

[wafaa elias]

Maywe frequently ask His Blessing upon all of our works,feelings, and thoughts, so that we may be blessed indeed].

O Lord Jesus Christ son of GOD, hear us and have mercy on us.

[Nahla Nicolas]

حاضر يا سيدي... والموضوع عنجد فخامة لأنه بيوصف كل أيقونة وبيشرحها وانشالله بس أخلص منه نهائياً رح ترجمه للعربي...


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[Mayda]

Face of Christ (Russian) - J17

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/08/166.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 16th c. (Mid) / Style: Of the Burning Eye / Heritage: Russian

Christ is traditionally shown from the earliest times of iconography with a short beard and long dark hair parted in the middle. His outer robe is blue, symbolizing His humanity which he put on in time at His Incarnation, and His inner robe is red, symbolizing His Divinity that He always is, was, and will be in all Eternity. In Christ’s halo or nimbus, his cross is lightly traced in red with the words “I AM” to remind us that He is the Lord of all.

This mid-16th c. Russian icon has raised edges which define the lowered interior space where the main figure of the icon is drawn. This lower space can symbolize the chalice, which contains God, for all icons are actually icons of the Incarnated God-Man Jesus Christ, Who is an icon of God the Father. Since we are made in His Image and Likeness, the sanctified humanity of the Saints are icons of Him also. Sometimes this space is also said to symbolize the Ark of the Covenant.

We see in this icon Christ’s eyes calling to us in a silent suffering love, as He serenely, yet intently, beckons us to join Him on the journey to Heaven. May we start today

[Mayda]

Christ (Russian)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/08/165.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 16th c. / Heritage: Russian

Christ is shown here in a close-up detail from a 16th c. Russian icon. His robe is brilliant white with the brightness and glory of the Holy Resurrection which has just broken over the horizon of the world as He pulls Adam and Eve out of the nether world and into Heaven, as can be seen in the complete icon F53. This detail shows the intent mercy and love of God for us, for the Lord’s Death and Resurrection are not just the cosmic fix of humanity’s existential problems, but the very conscious culmination of the saving work of Christ--to deify and glorify the innate image and likeness of Mankind into the fullness of the Heavenly Man that he was created for, now remade as he was always intended to be.

We can now in truth become far more than Adam’s condition before the Fall, for the Second Adam, Christ our God, has come to refashion the potential godliness of Adam into actual godliness. St. Athanasios the Great says in reference to the purpose of the Incarnation that “God became man so that man could become God”, not by nature, but by adoption. Let us live up to our inheritance with intent Faith and Love, and so be transfigured like Him

[Mayda]

Christ "The Merciful" (Mosaic)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/08/164.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 12th c. / L ocation: Staatliche Museum, Berlin / Style: Mosaic / Heritage: Byzantine

This icon is a 12th c. mosaic whose title, written in Greek on the sides of His nimbus or halo, is “Jesus Christ the Merciful.” The original is approximately two feet tall and its very high quality combined with its particular style indicates that it was probably made in about a.d. 1100 in the workshops of the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople, the Queen city of the Eastern Roman Empire for over a thousand years.

The use of mosaics in Christian iconography goes back to at least the fourth century and was extensively used in both East and West, with some of the best examples still to be seen in the churches of Ravenna, Italy and in Constantinople. Often mosaics were used directly on the walls and floors of churches, but the iconography was never put on the floor where someone could walk on the holy images. The use here of a portable icon in mosaic was not as common, but still done in Constantinople’s icon workshops at that period.

Christ gazes inwardly, pointing us to where His Kingdom remains. Let us follow Him in love to our true home

[Mayda]

Pantocrator (1262-1263)

http://www.orthodoxonline.org/forum/img-content/imgcache/2010/08/163.jpg (http://www.0zz0.com)

Date: 13th c. (Mid) / L ocation: St. Clement’s Church, Ochrid, Macedonia / Heritage: Macedonian

This icon is of very high quality and from the inscription on the back we know the details of its origin: “This icon was painted in the year 1262-1263, in the time of Archbishop Konstantin Kabisilas.” It was donated to St. Clement’s Cathedral Church in Ochrid by the archbishop as a sign of thankful gratitude upon his release from the prison that he had been incarcerated by order of Theodore II Lascaris, the Byzantine Emperor at that time. The style indicates that the contemporary trends in Byzantine iconographic technique were followed, as the larger ecclesiastical centers of the empire received them soon after their development in the capital city. The blue and gold in this icon are quite striking.

The red cross in Christ’s halo refers to His Passion as the Son of God, which He was in all Eternity, and the son of man, which He took on in the realm of chronos, or chronological time. In His left hand He holds a prophet’s scroll to show that He is the fulfillment of the prophet’s words. The Lord’s blessing right hand is turned inwards to remind us that He calls us to the inward state of repentance and love that open the doors of Heaven to us

[Mayda]

Christ the Saviour & Life-Giver

1574

Date: 14th c. (Late) / L ocation: Art Gallery, Skopje, Macedonia / Heritage: Macedonian

Originally from the iconostasis, or altar icon screen, of the monastery cathedral church in Zrze of Macedonia, this icon is just over four feet tall and is painted in the egg-tempera form of iconography which was borrowed from the funerary arts of Egypt and then sanctified by the Church. On the upper edge of the icon is the inscription written in Greek: “This icon of Our Lord Jesus Christ was painted in the year 1393-1394.” It is the work of Metropolitan Jovan-Zograph, a famous prelate and also a famous iconographer, who also was the painter of signed frescos in the church of St. Andrew on the Treska. The use of many pale, short lines, and also gentle transitions from the dark shadows to the pale ochre in the hands, face, and neck place this icon in the late Paleologean School of Constantinople.

Christ looks at us as Ruler and Judge on the one hand, but Saviour and Life-Giver on the other, as this icon’s name suggests, so that we will be sober in conscious understanding of our many sins and imperfections, yet hopeful that we may turn from these sins, repent, and receive Life Everlasting

[Mayda]

Great High Priest Enthroned

1575

Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Great High Priest, Enthroned / Heritage: Greek

The theme of this icon is expressed in Holy Scripture in these words: “Seeing that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Christ is depicted wearing the robes of a bishop with a bright red robe illumined with crosses, with the crown or miter of His Sovereignty on His head, with the Omophorion or stole of rulership on His shoulders, and with red shoes on His feet which represent that He is of Royal descent. The Lord sits on His Throne and rests His feet on His Footstool as He blesses us with His right hand and holds an open Gospel book in His left, to teach us how to follow Him. In St. John’s Gospel, chapter 17, He calls us all to sit with Him and then be one with Him as He is with His Father. May we all follow this calling to be true Christians indeed!

[Mayda]

Pantocrator (Hilandar)

1576

Date: 13th c. (Mid) / L ocation: Hilander Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

Originally from about 1260-1270, this icon was likely to have been a part of the iconostasis or altar icon screen of the old katholikon or main church at Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos. This work is quite exceptional, and shares some of the stylism of other great icons of the Lord from Sopocani in Serbia and from Ochrid in Macedonia of that same period, as well as the strength of the great encaustic icon of the Pantocrator from Sinai (J24).

The Greek term Pantocrator means “Ruler of All”, for it says of Christ in the Nicene Creed that by Him “all things were made” and in I Cor 15:24-25 that “He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign....” Truly all things in Heaven and on Earth are under Him, but this fact can be loved or hated, depending on our own will. May we love Him and His rule in our lives.

We see in Christ’s face a most interesting expression--a mixture of sobriety and mercy, with internal and outward awareness. God is merciful beyond our imagination, but God is also the Truth. O Lord help us be illumined by this loving Truth

[Mayda]

Pantocrator (Sinai)

1577
Date: 6th c. / L ocation: St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai / Style: Encaustic, Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

“Pantocrator” is the Greek word meaning “Ruler of All,” and many icons are modeled after this original. Christ is traditionally shown with a short beard and long dark hair parted in the middle, holding a jewel-studded Book of the Gospels in His left arm and blessing us with His right hand. Three fingers touch representing His Divinity, and two fingers are up to symbolize that He is fully God and fully Man, the forefinger bent for His Incarnation.

The Saviour has a serious and intent look, like the King of All looking upon His people. His face is not symmetrical but has a look of dignity and calmness on one side and a different look of arching of the eyebrows causing enlivenment on the other. These dissimilar but complimentary impressions strike a harmony between the Divine and Human Natures of Christ. Worked in an encaustic or wax-melting technique, this great treasure from the sixth century is one of the earliest icons of Christ still in existence. It is one of the famous icons at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai preserved by the ideal climate and in the lack of the 8th and 9th centurys’ iconoclastic persecution in that area

[Mayda]

Pantocrator

1578
Date: 13th c. (Mid) / L ocation: Hilandar Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

This is a detail of the famous Pantocrator (the Greek word for “Ruler of All”) icon at Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos painted in 1260-1270.

This icon was rendered in egg-tempera and shows the classical Byzantine iconographic influence of some of the best periods of early iconography, often portraying Christ in His Majesty and compassion. It has as well elements and stylization of other similar icons of Christ from the mid-13th century, especially in Macedonia and Serbia.

Icons are always more than just humanistic and naturalistic art, for the human perspective is limited by its own limiting self-awareness that cannot become truly objective from an Eternal point of view. This objectivity is just what a true icon expresses, both the state of creation and who is being depicted at the very end of time, often involving some abstraction or non-naturalistic perspectives. Thus Christ here has a long thin nose, wide set eyes which are open and aware, a pronounced brow, and a look of profound intentional insight into us, making us think about our own interior state now and in Eternity. Looking inside may we find Him in our hearts

[Mayda]

Pantocrator

1579
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Greek

This contemporary Greek icon is of Christ as Pantocrator, which in Greek means “Ruler of All.” It was painted by N. Lionda and is part of a set of icons called Deisis (Greek for “Supplicating”) which shows Christ in the center as Pantocrator and flanked on either side by certain Saints, in particular the Virgin on His right hand (T35) and St. John the Baptist on His left (S132).

Traditionally understood, this set of icons expresses why the sons of Zebedee, St. John and St. James, could not be promised to sit on Christ’s right and left hand in His Kingdom, as these places were already reserved (as this Deisis iconographic tradition preserves). In some Deisis icons there are other Saints like St. Peter and St. Paul on either side further from the center. The hands of all the Saints who surround Christ are then lifted up towards Christ as to ask or supplicate for His gracious intercession.

This icon of Christ is unusual in that He is shown on a blue grey background upon which He seems to float almost as if there were clouds. Christ rules with the scepter of Love but not indulgence, revealing now the secrets of our hearts if we let Him.

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Christ Enthroned (Russian)

1581
Date: 15th c./ Style: Enthroned / Heritage: Russian

This 15th century Russian icon of the Pantocrator (Greek for “Ruler of All”) was originally on the top row of an iconostasis or altar icon screen from Novgorod. The Deisis represents the Lord with His Holy Saints and Angels supplicating towards Him. In these matching icons (T36: The Theotokos, S150: The Archangel Michael, and S162: St. Peter, all standing on Christ’s right hand, and S133: St. John the Baptist, S120: The Archangel Gabriel, and S160: St. Paul all standing on Christ’s left) their hands are outstretched and their heads are bowed towards Christ sitting on the Throne of His Kingdom which will never end.

Often in Byzantine iconography, and in all the schools of iconography which have been influenced by it, we see a type of strong asymmetrical dynamism which consciously precludes the symmetrical vision of life and Heaven which is static and is seen in most Western spiritual art. In Orthodox theology, God and all of Creation are dynamic, as are all the Saints (from the Latin Sanctus, meaning holy), who continually grow more holy for all Eternity. We all must become such saints if we want to go to live in Heaven

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Pantocrator (Pec)

1582
Date: 15th c. / L ocation: Pec / Heritage: Serbian

This icon of the Pantocrator (Greek for “Ruler of All”) is from the Patriarchate of Pec and was painted in the 15th century. To teach us from His life and words that were recorded as the Holy Gospels (for the Gospels are a literary icon that we also venerate in Church), Christ holds this treasure in His left arm and blesses us with the Sign of the Cross in His right. This is one of the two patterns that have come down to us from ancient icons. In the pattern seen here, three fingers are held together to represent the Holy Trinity, and two fingers are together and upright to show His Divine and Human Natures, with one slightly bent to represent the humility of becoming fully human at His Incarnation. In the other pattern, the Lord holds His fingers to show the Greek letters for “IC XC”, the abbreviation for Jesus Christ.

We see in this icon by the position of the legs, torso, shoulders, and arms a strong sense of active movement in the Lord reaching out toward us, for we are to actively participate in His Life by becoming in the words of St. Peter “partakers of the Divine Nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) May we begin to draw near today

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Icon "Not Made By Hands" (Novgorod, 12th c.)

1583
Date: 12th c. / L ocation: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow / Style: Holy Napkin / Heritage: Russian

All icons of the Holy Face of Christ are patterned after the very first icon made by Jesus Christ Himself when he presented a cloth pressed to His face miraculously embedded with His image on it to the court artist of King Abgar of the City State Edessa, a neighboring kingdom of Israel at the time just before Christ’s Passion. This image became the pattern after which all icons of Christ have faithfully followed and was kept in Edessa until a.d. 944 when it was transferred to Constantinople. It was lost in a.d. 1204 at the time of the sack of Constantinople by the Western Knights of the 4th Crusade. Since Christ Himself made this icon by a miracle, we say that it is “Not Made by Hands.”

This icon is one side of a two-sided icon originally from the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin and is very striking in appearance with Christ’s face boldly standing out against the large cruciform nimbus or halo in the background. His hair extends outward in four locks, with His beard in two locks, and His eyes fix on us powerfully to mystically respond by entering a deeper relationship with Him. He is most truly majestic and radiant

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Mosaic Pantocrator (Agia Sophia)

1584
Date: 13th c. (Late) / L ocation: Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul) / Style: Mosaic, Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

Possibly the greatest icon of the late Paleologian Period, which began after the Restoration of the Byzantine Empire at Constantinople with the victory of Michael VIII Paleologus (1261-1282) that ended the Latin occupation. It was finished around 1280. Set in a background of gold mosaic tiles which almost shimmer, the figures of the Deisis or supplicating icon (which overall includes an icon of the Virgin and St. John the Forerunner) are made in fine tessera of mosaic tile of soft hues. It is set in the west side of the southern gallery of the Catachumena in the Great Church of Hagia Sophia, or Holy Wisdom, the architectural wonder finished under the Emperor Justinian in a.d. 585. This was the largest building in the world for over a thousand years, and considered one of the great wonders of the world.

This last great artistic outpouring in Byzantium included both the highest aesthetic standards and classical trends raised to new heights. Thus the “Ruler of All” or “Pantocrator” beckons us to seek His Kingdom first, beyond the beauty of this material world, no matter how beautiful that art or beauty may be

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Nymphios ("Bridegroom")

1585
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Nymphios (Bridegroom) / Heritage: Greek

As a husband is to his wife so is Jesus Christ to His Church. His Crucifixion is His marital vow and His mockery and beating His wedding feast. The Bridegroom icon shows Christ stripped of His garments and clothed in a scarlet robe to mock Him. He wears a crown of thorns, causing blood to flow from the wounds. A reed is placed in His bound hands as a scepter.

In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", to remind us that Christ was the All-Powerful God who freely chose to experience pain and death. For the first three days of Holy Week this icon is placed prominently in the Church to remind us of Christ's great love and great suffering. Like the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins we await the Bridegroom's arrival and sing, "Behold, the Bridegroom, cometh at midnight. And Blessed is the servant whom He shall find awake. But He whom He shall find neglectful is verily unworthy. Beware therefore my soul, less thou fallest into deep slumber and the door of the Kingdom be closed against thee and thou be delivered unto death. But be thou wakeful crying, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou.’ from the Bridegroom Matins

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Extreme Humility

1586
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Extreme Humility / Heritage: Greek

Here Christ is depicted descending into Hades bearing the instruments of the Passion: the Cross, lance, and sponge. His hands are as if bound but no rope is tying them together, demonstrating that He voluntarily chose to be fettered and willingly suffered for the salvation of all. We see the bleeding wounds on His side and hands, for He has kept His wounds even in His Resurrection as a sign that His agony and suffering were real and remain as a pledge of His undying Love for each person, even to His Death on the Cross. With His eyes closed He is truly dead to the world and all of its passionate needs during His descent in to Hades, yet inwardly beholding all things as the all-seeing God.

When we think of God and the attributes that are His by nature--unconditional Love, complete omnipresence and omnipotence, Existence Itself without the boundaries of time and space, all-holiness, absolute compassion and empathy, Truth that is never swayed by partiality yet tempered by Divine Mercy, total understanding--each is astounding and hard to comprehend, but this icon’s “Extreme Humility” is perhaps the most close and dear to us

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Mosaic Christ (Detail of F65) (Sinai, 6th c.)

1587
Date: 6th c. (Mid) / L ocation: St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai / Style: Mosaic / Heritage: Byzantine

During the reign of the Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565), who codified and amplified the whole breadth of Roman Law which is the foundation of modern law, there was an attempt also to extend and consolidate the Roman Empire in both East and West and many important buildings were built including Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) in Constantinople. Also at that time the fortress of St. Catherine’s Monastery was built in the Sinai peninsula and enclosed the main monastery church in honor of the Virgin Mary Theotokos.

This icon is a detail of the mosaic of the Transfiguration (F65) in the apse of the church over the main altar and is representative of the last phase of sacred art in this Justinian period (550-565). Light rays in this icon are emanating outward from Christ. According to the teaching of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Light of the Transfiguration is the Glory of God, and Its reception into the soul is the highest and complete ideal, set for each man that comes into this world. The sacred monastic ideal is often held as a means to more directly approach a life seeking this blessedness

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Mosaic Face of Christ ( Detail of J33) (Sinai, 6th c.)

1588
Date: 6th c. (Mid) / L ocation: St. Catherine’s Monastery, Mt. Sinai / Style: Mosaic / Heritage: Byzantine

Here is a detail of Christ’s Face from the magnificent mosaic icon of the Transfiguration (F65) in the curved apse over the sanctuary of the main church at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, finished about 550-565 by the command of the Roman Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565). This is a sixth century treasure among the other iconographic and written treasures preserved at the monastery because of its dry climate, its lack of ever being conquered and ransacked, and also its being out of the political sphere of the iconoclastic Byzantine Emperors of the Iconoclastic (or icon-smashing) period from a.d. 726-843.

On Mount Tabor the Lord was Transfigured before His Disciples Peter, James, and John in the presence of the Holy Prophet Moses and the Holy Prophet Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets). The brightness of this Light blinded the Apostles and they fell down in fear at the overshadowing of the bright cloud and the voice saying “this is My Beloved Son, hear ye Him.” Christ’s Face is radiant and suffused with transcendent Light and Glory. May we receive this light into our hearts today

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Deisis (Sinai, 12-13th c.)

1589
Date: 12th-13th c / L ocation: St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai / Style: Deisis, Enthroned / Heritage: Byzantine

This is a 12th-13th century icon from the central position above the Holy Doors of the upper row of festal icons of the Twelve Great Feasts of the year on the iconostasis or icon altar screen at the main monastery church at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. Six of the feasts are set on either side of this icon.

Here the Lord Almighty sits serenely on His Throne as the Ruler of the universe. On Christ’s right hand stands the Virgin with her hands raised in supplication towards her Son and God, while St. John the Baptist stands on His left also supplicating. Deisis means supplication, which is the title of this type of icon. Deisis icons preserve the tradition that on the Day of Judgement the Virgin will appear with St. John the Baptist to intercede on behalf of us sinners and implore Christ to forgive and have mercy.

In this icon we can see a distinct trait of icons painted at or for St. Catherine’s Monastery over a period of many years in that the gold of the halos are burnished in concentric circles around each head. This reflects the light into two bars which move as the observer moves, like the reflection on a phonograph record

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Christ "The Light-Giver"

1590
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Heritage: Greek

The Monk Michael of Mount Athos painted this three-quarter figure in 1991. We see Christ standing, carrying an ornamented book of the Holy Gospels in His left hand and blessing with his right hand, making the Sign of the Cross as an Orthodox priest normally makes over the Faithful. His fingers are formed into the shape of the Greek letters “IC XC” which is an abbreviation for the words Jesus Christ. These same letters, with a sign above them indicating that they are abbreviations, are set on either side of His halo or nimbus.

Around His head a cross is inscribed in this nimbus for even in His Glory He retained the imprint of His wounds in His hands, feet, and side as a continuing witness to His Love for us in dying on the Cross. In this cross are the Greek letters for “I AM” to remind us that He was before Abraham, even before the time when light and darkness were created, and will now be with us until the light of the Glory of the Second Coming of God.

Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer, “Light of light, true God of true God.” May He be the light by which we see all things

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Emmanuel (The Savior)

1591
Date: 17th c. (Mid) / L ocation: Kolomenskoye, Russia / Style: Emmanuel, Enthroned / Heritage: Russian

Emmanuel means “God with us” and is often used to speak of Christ in His younger days. Here the Almighty God Incarnate as a Beardless Child sits on a throne as the Ruler of the universe. The Divine Infant’s facial features are those of an adult to portray that although He was born on earth as a little baby, He was always consciously the All-Knowing God. In His left hand He holds a Gospel opened to the Prophet Isaiah, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord....” (Is 61:1-2)

The two small figures below are identified as the Tsar’s favorites boyar Artamon Matveev and his wife Evdokia, and they are kissing His feet. The difference in size between the Lord and those depicted helps emphasize the Glory and Majesty of God. This 1670 Russian icon of the Moscow School is from a wooden palace in Kolomenskoye built by Tsar Alexei Michaelovitch

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Deisis (Athos)

1592
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Greek

This modern Greek icon was painted by Monk Michael of Mount Athos and portrays the theme of the Deisis, or supplication of the Saints towards the Lord and their God. Here Christ on a throne as the Ruler of All is seated in Heaven and the Holy Ones who have loved Him well and followed the Lamb wherever He goes are standing behind Him on either side with both of their hands raised in supplication, asking that their prayers for the Faithful be graciously heard. The reason that the two sons of Zebedee would not be granted by the Lord to sit on His right hand and on His left in the Kingdom that would come is that these places had already been reserved for the Holy Virgin Theotokos on His right, and the Glorious Prophet and Forerunner John on His left. These two most perfectly epitomized in their lives on earth energetic love, devotion, and obedience to their Lord and God Jesus Christ; thus, in God’s Wisdom, they now stand near Him always.

At times this theme is expanded to include more Saints standing further out from the Virgin and St. John and often include the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, and Ss. Peter and Paul

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Pantocrator (Moscow)

1593
Date: 17th c. (Mid) / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Russian


A most striking icon of the Lord Jesus Christ from 1670 made in the Armory School in Moscow which was started and headed by the famous and influential Russian iconographer Simon Ushakov. The term Pantocrator is Greek and means the “Ruler of All” for Christ is set to rule over all of Heaven and Earth, for as it says in the Acts of the Apostles, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Acts 7:49)

We pray as the Lord Himself taught us that “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven....” for the Will of God is perfectly expressed and loved without hesitation in the Heavenly Realms as it is the perfection of Love and is Grace-filled towards all those who dwell there. Our life on earth is the preparation to learn to love that perfect and blessed Will which only does that which is truly Good and Holy, even if our limited worldly understanding cannot fully understand this now. As we are remade into His image and likeness, becoming “partakers of the Divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4) then all contrary will will bow down in love of Christ and the Holy Trinity, and towards all who have worshiped Him in faith and love

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Deisis (Novgorod)

1594
Date: 18th c. (Early) / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Russian

Here is a Russian icon from Novgorod that was painted in 1700 and shows the Lord seated on His Throne surrounded by many Saints whose hands are raised in supplication to Him to hear the prayers of the Faithful who are ardently asking for help, for the word Deisis means supplication. The Lord Jesus Christ holds in His left hand a book of the Holy Gospels, which is a written icon of His Life and Teachings and which is venerated in Church during Divine Services. It is open to show that He is teaching us through His words and life how we ought to live.

His right hand is raised in blessing as He most especially blesses all who come to Him and ask for a blessing. Too often we ourselves forget to ask earnestly for such blessings. On His right hand stands the Virgin Theotokos and on His left hand stands St. John the Baptist, as these places have been prepared for them by God’s express Will and their most active cooperation. To the Virgin’s right stands St. Peter and the St. John’s left stands St. Paul, who as the chief Apostles also supplicate for us all. Behind the Throne are two angels, and two other Saints stand on the far sides

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Christ "of the Burning Eye" (Moscow, 17th c.)

1595
Date: 17th c. (Mid) / Style: Of the Burning Eye / Heritage: Russian

There is an old Orthodox Christian saying that “in the icon the body is simply the support of the face, the face but a setting for the gaze.” This is definitely true in the case of this icon. In Russia icons that portray Christ as He appears from on high, with His Face threatening and severe as He is the Lord and Judge of the Universe, have been called the “Saviour of the Burning Eye.”

In Christ’s halo or nimbus, in the faded cross are the words in Slavonic for “I AM” as He is the same Lord Who spoke to Moses and told him to tell the Israelites when they asked what is God’s name, “I AM THAT I AM” and He said, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” God is not just wise, eternal, and all-powerful as we understand these things from our own human point of view, but the Ever-Existent One, and the very ground of existence itself. It is this existence that God Himself invites us to participate in more fully in our loving relationship with Him and the Truth that He shines forth.

We see both justice and Divine Mercy in His Face as He is both human and Divine in nature. May we be filled with both

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Deisis (Russian)

1596
Style: Deisis / Heritage: Russian

This Russian icon shows a vision of Heaven as do all icons in the Orthodox Church, for they are called “windows into Heaven” in that they show us how things will be at the end of chronological time in the New Heaven and New Earth of the Resurrection and subsequent restoration of all things. Many of the elements of Heaven have been revealed to us in the ongoing revelation by God to men which is the foundation and bedrock of the Church. These revelations are not fables or theories, the result of the man’s imagination, but the consistent vision of men and women across all time and various cultures, and also in direct accordance with God’s Life and Teaching on earth recorded in the Holy Gospels during His Incarnation.

Among those revelations is the subject of this icon called Deisis, which means “Supplication”, for we see the Virgin Theotokos and St. John the Forerunner standing next to Christ on His right and His left for their great love and fidelity to the Lord. This is why the sons of Zebedee could not be promised these places which were already prepared for those ordained as seen in this icon

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Rublev's Christ (Svenigorod)

1597
Date: 15th c. (Early) / L ocation: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Russian

This very famous icon of Christ is called Spas or Saviour and was painted by the most renowned iconographer of Russia St. Andrei Rublev in 1410 for the Monastery of Svenigorod near Moscow. Originally from the Deisis or Supplicating tier of the iconostasis or icon altar screen just above the Royal Doors, Christ here as Saviour expresses great love and compassion for us sinners in a face filled with light, kindness, and gentleness. The story of this icon is also quite unusual, showing God’s great Providence.

In 1918 experts of Russian iconography, knowing that this celebrated icon painter of the 14th-15th century had lived in this ancient town, went to look if somehow one of his icons had lain there unknown over the centuries. After a careful search in the Cathedral of the Annunciation when nothing was found, the search widened to the surrounding annexes around the church. There in a timber store under a firewood pile they found three blackened icon boards with paint peeling. When they were cleaned this icon appeared with icons of the Archangel Michael and St. Paul. Later a d ocument was found to confirm the truth of this wonderful find

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Christ Blessing

1598
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Heritage: Greek

Christ blesses us with His right hand, His fingers formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC," the abbreviation in Greek for Jesus Christ, and He holds in His left arm a jewel-studded Book of the Gospels. From the prototype of the first icon of Christ, miraculously made by the Saviour Himself, He is traditionally shown with a short beard and long dark hair with reddish highlights, parted in the middle. His expression is serious but merciful, to evoke from us a serious and loving response, as the Truth is both sober and yet hopeful for us.

Christ is shown with an outer blue robe, symbolizing the Humanity that He put on at His Incarnation, and with an inner red robe, representing His Divinity that remains for all eternity. In the cross in the nimbus or halo around His head are the Greek letters for "I AM" to remind us that although Incarnate in time, Jesus Christ is God before the ages, before Abraham, and is the God Who spoke with Moses face to face.

We too are icons of Christ, as yet still being formed, so we can be more like Christ if we see blessings as our greatest good

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Holy Napkin

1599
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Holy Napkin / Heritage: Greek

The original Holy Napkin, or the icon “Not Made By Hands”, was the very first icon ever made, and it was made in a miraculous way by Christ. King Abgar of Edessa, from his kingdom neighboring Israel, had sent his court artist to invite Christ to come to Edessa when he heard that the Lord was being persecuted in Israel. The artist was also asked to bring back a portrait of Christ because the king, who had leprosy, felt that if he could only see the likeness of this Man that he had heard so much of, that he would be made well. The artist tried many times to capture His Face, but was unable, so the Lord Who loves man, knowing all things, took a cloth and brought it to His Face, and a true likeness was impressed on the cloth, which was sent to King Abgar and healed him. Thus this first icon was not made by human hands.

Later the Apostle Jude Thaddeus was sent to preach to this kingdom, and they converted to become one of the first Christian states. The original Holy Napkin cloth was kept in Edessa until 944 when it was brought to Constantinople, and it is the pattern from which all subsequent icons of Christ are made

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Icon "Not Made By Hands"

1600
Style: Holy Napkin / Heritage: Russian

The Holy Napkin, or the icon “Not Made By Hands”, is the very first icon ever made, and it was made in a miraculous way by Christ. King Abgar of Edessa, from his kingdom neighboring Israel, had sent his court artist to invite Christ to come to Edessa when he heard that the Lord was being persecuted in Israel. The artist was also asked to bring back a portrait of Christ, because the king, who had leprosy, felt that if he could only see the likeness of this Man that he had heard so much of, that he would be made well. The artist tried many times to capture His Face, but was unable, so the Lord Who loves man, knowing all things, took a cloth and brought it to His Face, and a true likeness was impressed on the cloth, which was sent to King Abgar and healed him. Thus this first icon was not made by human hands.

Later the Apostle Jude Thaddeus was sent to preach to this kingdom, and they converted to become one of the first Christian states. The original Holy Napkin cloth was kept in Edessa until 944 when it was brought to Constantinople, and it is the pattern from which all subsequent icons of Christ are made.

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Great Deisis

1601
Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Holy Iviron Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Greek

In the upper center of this icon is the Lord Almighty, the Ruler of the universe. In His left hand He holds an opened Gospel Book, and with His right hand He blesses with the Orthodox priestly blessing having the fingers of His hand form the Greek letters “IC XC”, the abbreviation for Jesus Christ. This is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelation, “I am the Alpha and the Omega says the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is to Come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

As during His humiliation and Crucifixion, His Holy Mother stands to His right now in His Glory and Honor. Her arms are outstretched as she supplicates her Son. St. John the Forerunner is on His left. Deisis icons portray the tradition that on the Day of Judgment, the Virgin will appear with St. John to intercede on behalf of us sinners and implore the Lord to forgive and have mercy. In this icon of Great Supplication, two angels and Ss. Peter and Paul are in the top row also supplicating. In the second row are more Apostles, and in the remaining rows are the great Saints and leaders of the Church, all asking mercy from the Lord for us

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Deisis (Nea Skiti)

1602
Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Nea Skiti, Mt. Athos / Heritage: Greek

This brightly colored contemporary icon of the Deisis (from the Greek word for Supplication) was painted in 1992 and is from the Nea Skiti on Mount Athos. This monastery follows the Skete or middle form of monastic life, part way between the ascetic eremetic life and the all things in common cenobitic life. This is the form of monastic life most praised at the beginning of St. John of the Ladder’s 7th century instructions on monasticism.

The Lord sits on His Throne in Glory as He will appear on the Day of Judgment to separate the sheep from the goats. He has an open Gospel Book signifying that His message has gone out over all the earth and this message has given the standard by which all men will be judged. His right hand is raised in blessing.

“Upon Thy right hand did stand the Queen in gold of Ophir” (Ps. 45:9) says the Psalmist King David. She stands now in His Glory as she did on His right hand at His Crucifixion, supplicating with St. John the Forerunner who stands on Christ’s left, interceding on behalf of us sinners to implore Christ to forgive and have mercy on us. May we also find great mercy today

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Christ Enthroned (Detail of J49)

1603
Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Nea Skiti, Mt. Athos / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Greek

This brightly colored contemporary icon of Christ the Lord Enthroned is a detail of the Deisis (from the Greek word for Supplication) icon that was painted in 1992 at Nea Skiti on Mount Athos. This monastery follows the Skete or middle form of monastic life, part way between the ascetic eremetic life and the all things in common cenobitic life. This Skete life is the form of monastic life most praised at the beginning of St. John of the Ladder’s instructions on monasticism in the 7th century.

The Lord sits on His Throne in Glory as He will appear on the Day of Judgment to separate the sheep from the goats. He has an open Gospel Book signifying that His message has gone out over all the earth and this message has given the standard by which all men will be judged. His right hand is raised in blessing, and His fingers form the Greek letters “IC XC” which are an abbreviation for “Jesus Christ” and is the form in which Orthodox priests bless the Faithful. So we see Christ as the Merciful Lord on His Throne blessing all who come to follow Him, but gives us warning of the standards we must make our own to live with Him forever

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"King of the Heavens & Great High Priest"

1604
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Great High Priest / Heritage: Greek

This icon was painted by the Monk Michael from Mount Athos in 1988 and shows the Lord as both King of the Heavens and the Great High Priest for us on earth. Concerning why we need a Great High Priest, St. Paul says in his Epistle to the Hebrews, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

This type of icon depicts Christ wearing the robes, the crown or miter, and the stole (omofor or omophorion decorated with crosses) of bishops as they vest in church during the Divine Liturgy. Christ, the Great High Priest of His Church on earth, is shown holding an open Gospel Book in His left hand and blessing with His right hand. Majestic, serene, and loving is Our Lord, for although in Heaven, He is close, very close, to us here on earth

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Our Lord Jesus Christ (Dionysiou)

1605
Date: 16th c. (mid) / L ocation: Dionysiou Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Cretan

From the Holy Monastery of Dionysiou on Mount Athos, this icon is the center of a set of icons called the Great Deisis, or Great Supplication, and was painted by the master iconographer Euphrosynos the Cretan in 1542. Deisis icons show the Lord facing outward in the center of a group of icons to the right and the left whose figures are turned towards Him with hands raised in supplication, for we know that it is only through prayer and supplication that our great infirmities of fallen humanity can be healed. This prayer reestablishes the normal and loving dependent relationship of man to God which was sundered in Paradise when Adam and Eve fell into a distorted and ficticious perception of the universe, deceived by Satan, or the Adversary, which sees our self-will and self-rule as desireable without a moment by moment dependence on God. What a terrible disease that we inherit and reaffirm by our own fallen ideas and perception. How terrible indeed!

This is a magnificent icon of Christ with no visible damage over the centuries. The Lord is blessing us with His right hand and His left hand holds a jewel-studded Gospel to teach us faith

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Lord Jesus Christ (Jordanville)

1606

Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Russian

A very striking contemporary icon, painted in 1992 by the Priest-monk Andrei. It resides in the Optina Elders Chapel at the Russian Holy Trinity Monastery near Jordanville, New York. This icon shows stylization in both Russian and Byzantine techniques and reveals how even today there are very fine icons still being produced, and now even in America.

Traditionally there are two positions for Christ’s right hand when giving a blessing: 1) when the fingers form the Greek letters “IC XC” which is an abbreviation for Jesus Christ and is the position that Orthodox priests and bishops give liturgical blessings, and 2) as is shown in this icon, when the lower two fingers come together with the thumb representing the Holy Trinity and the upper two fingers are together representing Christ’s two Natures, one upright representing His Divinity, one bent representing His Humanity. The Lord holds His Gospel to show us the verbal icon of His Life and His Teachings that we both venerate in church, and must more importantly venerate in our life by following His example to truly live an outward and inward Christian life

[Mayda]

Holy Napkin (Jordanville)

1607
Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York / Style: Holy Napkin / Heritage: Russian

The Holy Napkin, or the icon “Not Made By Hands”, is the very first icon ever made, and it was made in a miraculous way by Christ. King Abgar of Edessa, from his kingdom neighboring Israel, had sent his court artist to invite Christ to come to Edessa when he heard that the Lord was being persecuted in Israel. The artist was also asked to bring back a portrait of Christ, because the king, who had leprosy, felt that if he could only see the likeness of this Man that he had heard so much about, he would be made well. The artist tried many times to capture His Face, but was unable, so the Lord Who loves man, knowing all things, took a cloth and brought it to His Face, and a true likeness was impressed on the cloth, which was sent to King Abgar and healed him. Thus this first icon was not made by human hands.

Later the Apostle Jude Thaddeus was sent to preach to this kingdom, and they converted to become one of the first Christian states. The original Holy Napkin cloth was kept in Edessa until a.d. 944 when it was brought to Constantinople, and it is the pattern from which all subsequent icons of Christ are made

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator

1608
Date: 16th c. (Late) / L ocation: Kerkyra (Corfu), Greece / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Cretan

This beautiful icon of Christ as the “Ruler of All” or Pantocrator was made in egg tempera and has a fine reddish-hued gold background and bright clear reds and deep blues on the Lord’s clothes. His face is serene yet attentive and shows acute but loving awareness, for the Lord of Life is the witness to our every thought, word, and deed, yet is our best and dearest Friend.

He holds an open Gospel book in His left hand and blesses us with His right hand, especially when we listen to His Holy Gospel. Since the Holy Gospel is open, He is teaching us the very life that we are supposed to live for blessings in this world, sometimes easy and sometimes hard, and more importantly, for a life of blessings in the next world. The famous iconographer Michael Damaskinos, who was a native of Crete, painted this icon in the late 16th century and in the post-Byzantine Cretan style. In the years following the Fall of Constantinople to the Turks in a.d. 1453, there was a great flowering of the talent of displaced iconographers who worked in Crete, the Ionian islands, Venice, and other parts of Italy. This is quite a fine example of this type of iconography

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator (Vatopedi Monastery, 13-14th c.)

1609
Date: 13th or 14thc. / L ocation: Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

The original of this icon is almost four feet tall and is located in Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, a peninsula in the Chaldiki region of northeastern Greece. Vatopedi is one of the twenty ruling monasteries on this monastic self-ruling community of Athos which has traditionally been an international community of monks from the whole Orthodox Christian community of believers. Much of the cultural treasures of Byzantium passed to Mount Athos at the close of the Byzantine Empire in a.d. 1453 with the conquering of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) by the Moslem armies. It has also been enriched by many other Orthodox kingdoms throughout its thousand year monastic history.

Christ holds a prophet’s scroll, for He is the fulfillment of the prophets’ yearning from the Old Testament for the final deliverance of Israel and its kingdom from amidst the pagan world. Christ brought far more in that He established a Kingdom that will never end, even after chronological time. “Pantocrator” is the Greek word for “Ruler of All” and indeed this is true, for Christ reigns eternally even now, for He opened the doors of Paradise

[Mayda]

Icon "Not Made By Hands" (Simon Ushakov, 17th c.)

1610
Date: 17th c. / L ocation: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow / Style: Holy Napkin / Heritage: Russian

This wonderful icon of Christ’s image on the Holy Napkin is by the hand of Simon Ushakov (1625-1668), the founder of the famous Armory Icon School at the Moscow Kremlin. Ushakov was especially known for his mastery of the faces of the images in his icons, and this is a good example by his beautiful rendering of Christ’s lively and compassionate expression on His Face.

This icon refers to the early Church Tradition that Christ made an image of Himself by pressing His face to a napkin and sending it to King Abgar of the neighboring kingdom of Edessa. The king had leprosy and believed that if he could just see an image of Christ, Whom he had heard so much about, that he would be healed, and this healing came to pass (except for one small spot on his face) when the image came to him . Christ also sent him a message telling him that one of His Disciples would come later and instruct the king. After the Ascension, the Apostle Jude Thaddeus came and baptized the king and the people of his kingdom, so that Edessa became the very first Christian kingdom. The last spot of leprosy was also healed at the time of King Abgar’s baptism

[Mayda]

Christ Enthroned with John the Baptist (Dionysiou Monastery, 17th c.)

1611
Date: 17th c. / L ocation: Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Greek

One of a pair of bright 17th c. Greek Deisis icons (J59 and T67) from Holy Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos, this icon shows the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John with his hands upraised in prayer and supplication to Christ Who sits serenely and attentively on His Throne. We know from Holy Tradition (“therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” [2 Thes. 2:15] ) that the Virgin and Birth-giver of God, Mary, stands on Christ’s right hand in the Kingdom, and St. John the Baptist stands on His left. This is why the Lord could not promise these places to the Sons of Zebedee, St. James and St. John, when they asked this of Him.

In this Deisis icon Christ is sitting enthroned as the Ruler of the universe, “for in that he put all in subjection unto Him” (Hebrews 2:8) as God’s Will is a simple state of reality that will be completely manifest at the end of this world. Reality is always self-evident, not really a vote or philosophical discussion, but we must agree to live in this Truth, or face ultimate alienation from all Life. This is the actual limit of freedom: to see Truth or remain blind

[Mayda]

Great High Priest Enthroned

1612
Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Dormition Convent, Parnes, Greece / Style: Great High Priest, Enthroned / Heritage: Greek

The Lord Almighty sits on a throne as the Ruler of the universe, and in His left hand He holds an opened Gospel. With His right hand He blesses with the priest's blessing, the fingers of His hand forming the Greek letters "IC XC", which is the abbreviation for "Jesus Christ". In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", for this is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelation (1:8), "I am Alpha and Omega...saith the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is To Come, the Almighty." On the four corners of the throne are symbolically represented the Four Evangelists: Matthew as a young man, Mark as a lion, Luke as an ox, and John as an eagle. All four have wings to portray their angelic nature and all carry Gospel books, for they proclaimed the Good News to the whole world through the Gospels that they have written.

Christ is wearing the robes, the crown or miter, and the stole (omofor or omophorion decorated with crosses) of bishops as they vest in church during the Divine Liturgy. Christ is the Great High Priest of His Church on earth, and the loving ruler of all who will lovingly be ruled by Him in their life. May we be among them

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator (17th c.)

1613
Date: 17th c. / L ocation: Cretan / Style: Pantocrator

Christ stands before us in this well-preserved 17th c. Cretan icon with a clear and perceptive gaze, and in His left hand He holds a closed ornate Gospel Book to remind us of the guidelines by which we all should live. His life is a revelation of the Mysteries of God and the Lord’s amazing condescension of Love, to come to earth and open fully the path to Heaven for all of us. Christ is the most interactive person Who has ever appeared, for He is intent on giving us “life, and that...[we] might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10) for “in Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) As the Lord taught us in the Gospels, there is a great difference between just worldly life and Everlasting Life. May we be wise and choose the fullness of Life that He offers.

With His right hand He blesses with the priest's blessing, the fingers of His hand forming the Greek letters "IC XC", which is the abbreviation for "Jesus Christ". In Christ's halo are the Greek letters for "I AM", for this is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelation (1:8), "I am Alpha and Omega...saith the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is To Come, the Almighty

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator

1614
Date: 20th c. (Late) / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Greek

Christ blesses us with His right hand as “Pantocrator” (the Greek word for “Ruler of All”), His fingers formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC," the abbreviation in Greek for Jesus Christ, and He holds in His left arm a jewel-studded Book of the Gospels. From the prototype of the first icon of Christ, miraculously made by the Saviour Himself, He is traditionally shown with a short beard and having long dark brown hair with reddish highlights, parted in the middle. His expression is serious but merciful, to evoke from us a serious and loving response, for the Truth is both sober and yet hopeful for us.


Christ is shown with an outer blue robe, symbolizing the Humanity that He put on at His Incarnation, and with an inner red robe, representing His Divinity that remains for all eternity. In the cross in the nimbus or halo around His head are the Greek letters for "I AM" to remind us that although Incarnate in time, Jesus Christ is God before the ages, even before Abraham, and He is the same God Who spoke with Moses face to face. Christ blesses us at all times, but we must be open and receptive to fully receive it.

[Mayda]

Pantocrator (Bulgarian) (18th c.) -

1615
Date: 18th c. (Early) / L ocation: Nativity Church, Arbanassi, Bulgaria / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Bulgarian

Christ is seen here as “Pantocrator” which is the Greek word for “Ruler of All”, in this bright and colorful 18th century icon from Arbanassi, Bulgaria located just 4 kilometers northeast of Veliko Turnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (a.d. 1187-1393). The icon is a part of the iconostasis or altar icon screen in the Rojdestvo Christovo church (Nativity of Christ) which was built between 1637 and 1649, and is dug into the ground without a belfry and with hidden cupolas because of the religious persecution under the Moslem rulers at that time. This persecution was often fierce and continued during the time of the Turkish Yoke for 482 years (1396-1878) until the Bulgarian war of independence in 1877-78 at the time of the Russo-Turkish War. The church is a repository of over 3,500 stunningly bright icon treasures.

Christ’s fingers of His right hand are formed into the shape of the Greek letters "IC XC," the abbreviation in Greek for Jesus Christ, and He holds in His left arm an open Book of the Gospels. The most important choice of our life is to recognize that truly Christ is the loving Ruler of All, and to act accordingly

[Mayda]

Christ the Saviour

1616
Date: 20th c. (Late) / L ocation: Dormition Convent, Parnes, Greece / Heritage: Greek

Christ is both “Pantocrator” (which is the Greek word for “Ruler of All”) and our Saviour in name and deed if we will only cooperate with Him. We often fail to fully appreciate the meaning of the word “Jesus”, which was the name revealed by the angel to the aged Joseph to call the son of the Virgin Mary to whom he was betrothed. The angel said, “and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Mat 1:21)

Jesus is the Greek word for the Hebrew Jehoshua or Yehowshua (the same name as the Prophet Joshua) which means “Jehovah” or God “saves” which is derived from the Hebrew word Yeshuwa, or “he will save.” Christ comes from the Greek word Christos meaning the Anointed, and is a translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. So when the Lord said, “and this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent...” He is really saying that we must affirm that He is the Anointed One or Messiah sent to save the people of God, and this confession brings us toward Eternal Life. May we not just affirm this with our mouths, but with our very lives

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator at a Young Age

1617
Date: 16th c. / L ocation: Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Fresco, Emmanuel / Heritage: Greek

Christ is the “Pantocrator” (from the Greek word for “Ruler of All”) and here appears as a young man on a 16th century fresco on the dome over the proskomede table at the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou on Mount Athos. The living Tradition in the Orthodox Church has preserved in both word and form the continuum of what has been passed down to us over all these generations since Christ revealed Himself to His Disciples and Apostles during His Life, and then afterwards. From the very first icon that He Himself made and sent to King Abgar of Edessa, we have a continuous history of what Christ really looked like, and we have kept this iconographic Tradition most carefully.

In the frescoes from Meteora in the same period, we see depicted Adam (in our F112 icon “Adam Naming the Animals”) who was also a son of God, with a very similar face. What the first Adam lacked in obedience and humility, the “second Adam” Christ brought to heal the wounds of man, and bring the fullness of Life to us by making us “partakers of the Divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4 ) so that by Divinization or Theosis, we too might become sons of God

[Mayda]

Deisis with St Nicholas (Theophanes)

1618
Date: 16th c. (Mid) / L ocation: Stavronikita Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Deisis / Heritage: Cretan

Christ is the flanked by the Virgin Mary Theotokos or Birth-Giver of God and St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia in this mid- 16th century Deisis icon. It is from east wall of the narthex of the main church or katholikon dedicated to St. Nicholas at Stavronikita Monastery on Mount Athos. Although normally in Deisis (from the Greek word for Supplicating) icons, St. John the Forerunner and Baptist stands to Christ’s left, because St. Nicholas in the patron of this church, he is included in this icon in St. John’s place.

The Deisis icons show forth the condition of prayer and supplication that the Holy Ones are in, asking Christ’s blessings and great intercession to cure our many spiritual, psychological, and physical ills. The Saints are a mystery of Grace for they have manifested the Light of the Transfiguration and the Resurrection by their conscious and willing obedience to Christ Who has remade them into His Image and Likeness so that they shine with His Glory reflected in them. Since we are all called to be holy, or sanctus (from the Latin), to become citizens of Heaven, these are truly our spirit-filled older brothers and sisters in Christ

[Mayda]

Holy Napkin (Moscow, 16th c.)

1619
Date: 16th c. / L ocation: Moscow Ecclesiastical Academy / Style: Holy Napkin / Heritage: Russian

The Holy Napkin, or the icon “Not Made By Hands”, is the very first icon ever made, and it was made in a miraculous way by Christ. King Abgar of Edessa, from his kingdom neighboring Israel, had sent his court artist to invite Christ to come to Edessa when he heard that the Lord was being persecuted in Israel. The artist was also asked to bring back a portrait of Christ, because the king, who had leprosy, felt that if he could only see the likeness of this Man that he had heard so much of, that he would be made well. The artist tried many times to capture His Face, but was unable, so the Lord Who loves man, knowing all things, took a cloth and brought it to His Face, and a true likeness was impressed on the cloth, which was sent to King Abgar and healed him. Thus this first icon was not made by human hands.

Later the Apostle Jude Thaddeus was sent to preach to this kingdom, and they converted to become one of the first Christian states. The original Holy Napkin cloth was kept in Edessa until 944 when it was brought to Constantinople, and it is the pattern from which all subsequent icons of Christ are made

[Mayda]

Pantocrator (Mosaic) (Monastery Hosios Loukas)

1620
Date: 11th c. (Early) / L ocation: Hosios Loukas Monastery, Greece / Style: Mosaic, Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

The term “Pantocrator” is from the Greek and means the “Ruler of All”. It is used to describe many icons of Christ, for the Lord is truly He Who rules all of the universe completely by His Providence so that all who desire to do evil have their wills modified in deed allowing only that which has passed through God’s hands and been made an opportunity for ultimate good (although this may seem mysterious at the time and with our short-term vision and understanding).

In Heaven, God’s Will is completely manifest and brightly shines at all times. One earth, the Lord has asked us to pray that this might more fully come to pass, so that His ineffable and blessed goodness expressed in His Will, which only is truly good, not the pagan ideas of the mixture of good and evil, might always come to pass. This pagan mixture is expressed today often in the ideas of yin and yang in Chinese philosophy or in Jungian light and dark psychological imagery as a part of the “normal” psychology of man, and in the Hinduism pantheon of deities which includes Kali as the fearsome and blood-thirsty destroyer

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator (Detail) (Vatopedi Monastery, 13-14th c.)

1621
Date: 13th -14th c. / L ocation: Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos / Style: Pantocrator / Heritage: Byzantine

This icon is a detail of a beautiful 13th or 14th century egg-tempera rendition of Christ as the “Pantocrator” (from the Greek, meaning “Ruler of All”). His face shows the traditional form of the Lord from the very earliest times: long brown hair with reddish highlights that is parted in the middle, a long thin nose, a short beard, and very expressive and aware eyes that often look right into our hearts and minds, revealing the secrets of our thoughts and intentions, as He is always their silent witness.

This revelation is a part of the Light of the Resurrection, which illumines all things with the brilliance of truth, for He is the living Truth, and His Light makes all things apparent, “for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” (Mat 10:26) If we are living a life that goes towards this bright and revealing light, and are thankful to have the chance to amend every imperfection and sin that so easily besets us, then we will experience this light as great freedom and love of God for us. If we are not living a Godly life, we will experience this light and truth as pain and do everything that we can to avoid it

[Mayda]

Christ the Redeemer Enthroned (Mosaic- Ravenna, 6th c.)

1622
Date: 6th c. / L ocation: Basilica of St. Apollinaris, Ravenna, Italy / Style: Mosaic, Enthroned / Heritage: Byzantine

This icon is a beautiful example of the fine mosaic work that was done throughout much of Ravenna, Italy, in the 6th century when classical elements of style in the Byzantine heritage were put in many of the churches that were built at that time. The unified Roman Empire was under the aegis of the Emperor Justinian, the great codifier of Roman law, which still affects all of us today.

In the Basilica of St. Apolinaris, this icon of Christ seated on a throne with His right hand blessing has a luminous gold background and shows Christ in a dark red/brown robe. His left hand holds the scepter of a king. The detail on the throne has a green back cushion with blue highlights surrounding it, and a red bottom cushion. The face of Christ is expressive with a look of both penetrating wonder and kind blessings. In Christ's halo is a jewel-studded cross. This is the King of Kings as spoken of in Revelations, "I am the Alpha and the Omega says the Lord, Which Is, Which Was, and Which Is To Come, the Almighty." He is the Redeemer of immortal souls at the end of the ages. If we let Christ open our hearts, we will hear Him call, “Come unto me...and find your rest

[Mayda]

Christ Pantocrator (Enameled-Russian, 19th c.)

1623
Date: 19th c. / Style: Enameled & Cloisonne, Pantocrator / Heritage: Russian

The original of this 19th century Russian icon has an extensive background of fine decorative enamel work in floral and leaf design on the oklad (Russian for “****l cover”). These covers were originally designed both to protect the icons from damage including by human handling, as we often now use glass to protect paintings, and also to beautify and show love and reverence towards the icon subject. Often when the icon is covered, only the hands and faces in the icon are exposed so that they may be seen and venerated. In this particular icon, however, more of the figure is visible including the upper chest and the open Gospel book.

The Greek word “Pantocrator” means “Ruler of All” expressing the understanding that Christ is truly over all things, but this truth can only be understood in a heart open to love the Truth and the Goodness that the Lord most perfectly reveals in this imperfect present world. Now on earth this is not readily perceivable without our minds being illumined by Grace and our conscious cooperation with it, but in the next world He will be manifest in Glory, but how we will feel about it depends on our choices now

[karen]

The subject of a wonderful
God bless your efforts

[Ioannis]

Excellent and maybe unique thread. Bravo!!!

[Mayda]

Excellent and maybe unique thread. Bravo!!!

Thank you my dear friend Ioannis... welcome on board and we're looking forward to see your threads

God Bless you

:sm-ool-30: