Orthodox Byzantine Icons of the Lord

[Mayda]

Christ Enthroned



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