Orthodox Byzantine Icons of the Lord

Pantocrator (Moscow)

ملف مرفق 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

Deisis (Novgorod)

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

Deisis (Russian)

ملف مرفق 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

Rublev's Christ (Svenigorod)

ملف مرفق 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

Christ Blessing

ملف مرفق 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

Holy Napkin

ملف مرفق 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

Icon "Not Made By Hands"

ملف مرفق 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.

Great Deisis

ملف مرفق 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

Deisis (Nea Skiti)

ملف مرفق 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

Christ Enthroned (Detail of J49)

ملف مرفق 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

"King of the Heavens & Great High Priest"

ملف مرفق 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

Our Lord Jesus Christ (Dionysiou)

ملف مرفق 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

Lord Jesus Christ (Jordanville)

ملف مرفق 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

Holy Napkin (Jordanville)

ملف مرفق 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

Christ Pantocrator

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

Great High Priest Enthroned

ملف مرفق 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

Christ Pantocrator (17th c.)

ملف مرفق 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

Christ Pantocrator

ملف مرفق 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.

Pantocrator (Bulgarian) (18th c.) -

ملف مرفق 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

Christ the Saviour

ملف مرفق 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

Christ Pantocrator at a Young Age

ملف مرفق 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

Deisis with St Nicholas (Theophanes)

ملف مرفق 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

Holy Napkin (Moscow, 16th c.)

ملف مرفق 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

Pantocrator (Mosaic) (Monastery Hosios Loukas)

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

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

ملف مرفق 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

The subject of a wonderful
God bless your efforts

Excellent and maybe unique thread. Bravo!!!

اقتباس:

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المشاركة الأصلية كتبت بواسطة Ioannis

Excellent and maybe unique thread. Bravo!!!

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

God Bless you

:sm-ool-30: