The mosaics were made with 2200 kg of pure gold, experts have estimated. Abbot damian higgins, who have collectively produced over 1,000 icons in the past 20 years. Discover mosaics, history and more hagia sophia the world wonder of soaring architecture. Christ pantocrator article about christ pantocrator by the. Christ pantocrator in the monreale cathedral duomo the cathedral in monreale, built c. In the halflength image, christ holds the new testament in his left hand and makes the gesture of teaching or of blessing with his right. The christ pantokrator icons are also called christ the teacher. Dusting off is exactly what happened with this icon christ pantocrator. There are many different types of christian icons depicting jesus christ. It is the earliest known version of the pantocrator style that still survives today, and is regarded by historians and scholars to be one of the most important and recognizable works in the study of byzantine. Estonian depiction of christ pantocrator history isaiah and he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
In the catacombs, the underground tombs where the early. Media in category sinai icon of christ pantocrator the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. The word pantocrator and the idea behind it appear in the book of revelation. Ive selected a representation of christ as a pantocrator, located in the church of the dormition, in daphni, greece. Painted orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator from. Our rustic wood plaques are designed, printed and stained to give a rustic, weathered look. The painted decoration and the representation of christ pantocrator are the work of anatole dauvergne in 1859. A truly artistic and religious addition to any home. Of all the book inscriptions on the icons they could usually be chosen freely. Sinai icon of christ pantocrator wikimedia commons.
Its been one of my favorite icons of christ since i began really trying to learn more about the orthodox church, fourteen years ago. Christ is bearded, his brown hair centrally parted, and his head is surrounded by a halo. Learn about the most important icon of christ pantocrator, dating from the 6th century. The extraordinary hagia sophia, with its history at the centre of orthodox christianity, seems to inhabit this image. This painting is considered one of the oldest byzantine religious icons and is the earliest known work of the pantocrator style lowden, 66.
The location enabled the image to survive the destruction of most icons during the iconoclastic era in byzantine history, 726 to 815 ad. Christ pantocrator is a conception of jesus as the almighty, or ruler of all things, and is a common depiction of jesus in the byzantine or eastern orthodox churches. I already have two christ icons but was drawn back to this, my old favourite, the expression touches me, being benevolent and tender. The icon is usually shown against a gold background comparable to the gilded grounds of mosaic depictions of the christian emperors. A rich and beautiful 6th century icon christ pantocrator, this beautiful picture of our lord is wonderfully complemented by an antique dark ornate frame under premium clear glass. Icon of christ pantocrator from the monastery of st. Christ pantocrator is an icon of christ represented full or halflength and fullfaced. Christ pantocrator the almighty is portrayed in a mosaic medallion with 9 variegated circles diameter of the medallion 4,04,1 m.
The book christ is holding in his hand has the inscription. The icon of christ pantocrator, from the sacred monastery of the godtrodden mount sinai, is one of the most profound theological images of our lord jesus christ. The image of christ the pantocrator was one of the first images of christ developed in the early christian church and remains a central icon of the orthodox church. Catherines monastery at sinai is one of the oldest eastern roman religious icons, dating from the 6th century ad. In both icons jesus is holding a book, sometimes open. Christ sits on an elaborate throne as the pantocrator, with a book of gospels in one arm and his hand gesturing in a motion. Sometimes this is a gesture of blessing and in others it is an oratorical motion. Sep 30, 2015 this is one of the earliest christian icons, known as a pantocrator, discovered in the monastry of saint katerina in sinai. Christ pantocrator christ, ruler of all derek vreeland. Christ is distant from us and sometimes his face is stern. The hagia sophia church was constructed in constantinople which is now istanbul, turkey and is believed to have been founded by constantine the great. Christ the savior, museum of fine arts of iaroslav, russia, 1250. Yet in other iconic depictions such as that of the balkan churches, we find the pantocrator with dancing eyes. Jesus christ hagia sophia mosaic icon legacy icons.
One of the most important icons in the monasterys collection and represents the two faces of christ. The christ pantocrator icon was originally produced by mount tabor studios, a team of iconographers headed by fr. His brown hair is parted in the middle and he is bearded. The icon portrays christ as the righteous judge and the lover of mankind, both at the same time.
Christ is depicted raising his left hand to make the sign of a blessing and with his right he holds onto a book. Christ pantocrator, round icon ancient faith store. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have. Catherine on mount sinai is one of the few to have survived the icons controversy of the 8th century in the christian east. We offer many different sizes, as well as laminated or mounted on wood. Icon is a copy of a mosaic icon of jesus christ from saint sophias church hagia sophia, constantinople century. Icons of sinai jesus christ pantokrator, the halo from icons and their. It is the earliest known version of the pantocrator style that still survives today, and is regarded by historians and scholars to be one of the most important and recognizable works in the study of byzantine art as well as eastern orthodox. Technically, if the book is closed it is a christ pantokrator icon.
Byzantine art and the pantocrator francisco guerrero. The icon is not just a nice sacred image that adorns churches and homes. Christ pantocrator prince of peace catholic church. The painting is deliberately asymmetrical to symbolize christ s dual nature weitzmann, 15. The image depicts christ draped in blue robes, and framed by a halo and cross. History and theological idea of the hodegetria icon. Still, the formal breakdown lets us list the image attributes into a clear and understandable way. Christ pantocrator icon banner stand catholic to the max. According to the images in the protaton of mountathos, manual panselinos, who painted them in 1290, did not know. This banner stand is 78 tall by 33 wide and features the icon of christ pantocrator. Fully retractable and stored in an aluminum case, it takes less than a minute to extend the telescopic pole and unroll the christ pantocrator icon banner. It is the earliest known version of the pantocrator style that still survives today, and is regarded by historians and scholars to be one of the most important and recognizable works in the study of byzantine art as well as eastern orthodox christianity.
See more ideas about christ pantocrator, christ and orthodox icons. Christ the pantocrator sinai polished gold painted icons. We are an online maker and seller of orthodox christian icons, books, and gifts. Through the incarnation, christ himself is made word and image, the word of the ineffable mysteries and the image of the invisible god. Or as is proclaimed in the divine praises, blessed be jesus christ, true god and true man. Normally the icon of christ pantocrator is the most remote of all the conventional poses. The cathedral in monreale, palermo, is regarded as the most beautiful of the norman churches in sicily.
Pantocrator means the almighty, or powerful, referring to the omnipotence of jesus christ as the son of god. The christ pantocrator round wall plaque is a traditional religious icon that beautifully depicts christ as ruler of all. Christ the pantocrator sinai polished gold painted icons an icon of christ pantocrator. Christ pantocrator, large icon ancient faith store.
The icon of christ pantocrator, from the sacred monastery of the. Orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator 23, copy of the encaustic icon of sinai, christ pantocrator. Christ pantocrator the word pantocrator is of greek origin meaning ruler of all. Christ pantocrator is a theme in iconography, depicting jesus christ at halflength, with his right hand lifted and blessing, fingers positioned as per orthodox signing, and holding the bible in his left hand. An icon where christ has an open book is called christ the teacher, a variant of the pantocrator. The oldest religious icon of christ pantocrator russian icon. The oldest known icon of christ pantocrator was written in the sixth century and preserved in the remote monastery of st. The oldest known icon of christ pantocrator is found in saint catherines monastery on mount sinai and is from the 6 th c. This style of iconography is called christ pantokrator or pantocrator. However in christ the teacher, jesus is holding an open book with a new testament verse message written in it. Christ pantocrator is an orthodox icon or picture of christ. Religious images religious icons christ pantocrator roman church church interior orthodox icons jesus christ christianity catholic christ in glory, original print on natural canvas and stretcher of modern icon, made by ivanka demchuk.
Catherines monastery on sinai is truly aweinspiring. The icon of christ pantocrator always shows him holding a book of holy scripture, so he himself is the word, he is holding an book representing the word, and his halo now is recognized as revealing the geometric structure of his word. Pantocrator, a description of the sinai christ icon youtube. Oct 31, 20 still, the formal breakdown lets us list the image attributes into a clear and understandable way. A history of christianity, volume 1, beginnings to 1500. Rather, it speaks a theological truth about our lord jesus christ. The christ pantocrator icon at the monastery of st. He sees writing icons as a spiritual practice, one he shares in his new book, drawing closer to christ. Apr 02, 2020 the oldest known icon of christ pantocrator was written in the sixth century and preserved in the remote monastery of st. Pantokrator images often appear in byzantine icons and in dome and apse mosaics in byzantine churches. Icons were first used in early christianity to convey concepts from the bible through images to a population that was mostly illiterate. This rustic wood plaque features christ the pantocrator. Add to that the wonderful craftsmanship so evident in this legacy icon, and i realised i just had to order one. Though not clear in this icon, the book held in christs left hand is adorned with the cross, identifying it as the gospels.
Jul 05, 2010 the touching finger and thumb of jesus not only spell out c, but attest to the incarnation. Christ pantocrator is a painted wood panel dating back to the 6th century from st. As with many of the early icons from sinai, the christ pantocrator was created by using this. Christ the pantocrator, orthodox icon, size 6, 816 x 9. Catherines monastery at sinai is one of the oldest eastern roman. It is the icon of he who is the core of the christian faith. Currency all prices are in aud currency all prices are in aud. The christ pantokrator icons were symbols of the nicene verdict that christ was coequal and coeternal with god. The word pantocrator is of greek origin meaning ruler of all. Byzantine christ pantokrator history 2701 wiki fandom.
The icon is usually shown against a gold background comparable to the gilded. It is the image of the glorified christ reigning on his heavenly throne. Christ pantokrator christ is the icon of the invisible god, the firstborn over all creation col 1. Sinai and is the oldest surviving pantocrator icon in existence. In the left hand he holds the gospel, which will be opened at the last judgement. It was commissioned to mark the end of 57 years of roman catholic use and the return to the orthodox faith.
Jesus christ the icon of god a readers guide to orthodox. Christ pantocrator iconography of christ medieval art. Icon from the monastery of karakalloy, mount athos. Christ pantocrator iconography of christ medieval art projects.
The icon of christ pantokrator is one of the most common religious images of orthodox. Jan 20, 2015 the icon of christ pantocrator, from the sacred monastery of the godtrodden mount sinai, is one of the most profound theological images of our lord jesus christ. A rich and beautiful 6th century painting, our christ pantocrator icon rustic wood plaque displays christ in his two natures human and divine in one person. Above christ s head are the letters ic and xc, a widely used four letter abbreviation of the greek for jesus ihcoyc christ xpictoc. Christ has an open book is called christ the teacher, a variant of the pantocrator. Catholic church history that endures the mosaic icon of christ pantocrator is part of a larger mosaic of the deesis in the hagia sophias south gallery. Jesus christ, greek icon dating from the 15th century. I wanted to introduce the icon i chose for the bookmark i recently had designed for the orthodox book club. Wide range of religious icons from st josephs catholic giftshop on amazon. A huge site on byzantine history hagia sophia learn about byzantium. This is the oldest known icon of christ pantocrator, written in the sixth century and preserved in the remote monastery of st. Christ is represented frontally, right hand raised in a blessing gesture, left hand holding a gospel book. We can assume this book is most likely a gospel because it is adorned in jewels in the shape of a cross. According to canon, christ blesses people with his right hand.
This icon is very similar to christ the pantocrator icon in that it is a half length depiction of jesus. Icons and eastern or byzantine icons in particularare making a comeback in the church through the influence of postmodernemerging styles of worship that want to reach back into the historical church and dust off some ancient practices that have long been forgotten. The hagia sophia church was constructed in constantinople which is now istanbul, turkey and is believed. Christ pantocrator of mount sinai orthodox icon legacy icons. Greek orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator 23 of. The central dome depicts an image of christ pantocrator, and the overall decorative program depicts scenes from the life of christ and images of salvation from both the old and new testament. This states that the humanity and divinity of christ are made one and exist as one in the logos, the word made flesh. Sep 26, 2015 one of the worlds most famous christian icons the christ pantocrator icon from sinai mountain is the oldest known image of jesus christ in existence. He holds the book of the gospels in his left hand and blesses with his right hand. The first icon shown here is the earliest known christ pantokrator icon dated around the 6th or 7th century. The oldest known extant icon of christ the pantocrator. During the iconoclastic period of the 8th and 9th centuries roughly, the main thing attacked was the icon of christ.
In christian iconography, christ pantocrator greek. Painted orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator from sinai. Dating from the 6 th century ad, this important icon of christ pantocrator see photo above is considered the oldest surviving wood panel icon of jesus and one of the oldest depictions of christ on the whole. In his left hand he holds a book that would represent either the gospels or the new testament. The video describes aspects of the icon including the dual nature of the. This is one of the earliest christian icons, known as a pantocrator, discovered in the monastry of saint katerina in sinai. This image is in the upper gallery at saint sophia. Pantocrator one of the most typical and most meaningful symbols of our church is the icon of christ pantocrator, the lord omnipotent, that appears in the dome of most orthodox churches. Christ pantocrator icon rustic wood icon plaque catholic. Christ is bearded, his brown hair centrally parted, his head is surrounded by a halo. The ancient icon of christ pantocrator of sinai encaustic icon sinai 6th century.
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