Jesus Christ Pantocrator – Serigraph on Naturally Aged Wood | Mount Athos

Description

Icon with Jesus Christ Pantocrator on Naturally Aged Wood

Jesus Christ Pantocrator is one of the most common religious images of Orthodox Christianity. The icon depicts Christ with a somewhat melancholy and stern aspect, with the right hand raised in blessing while holding a closed gospel with his left one. Pantocrator usually translated as «almighty» or «all-powerful».

The icon of Christ Pantocrator appears in the dome of most Orthodox Churches. According to Orthodox tradition the highest point of the Church is reserved for Jesus Christ. His Mother and all the other saints, angels and prophets are depicted on the walls immediately below Pantocrator. The iconographic type of Christ Pantocrator, the «all-powerful», is very frequent in later Byzantine art.

Blessed Wood that Came out of Paradise

That piece of naturally aged wood used to be part of a door leaf at a cell at Mount Athos. When the cell was renovated because it has suffered many damages through years monks kept the pieces of that old wood to use them as a base at the icons they create. Renovation works were necessary so the cell could  remain in good condition and monks can continue to live there.

Every part of this cell is connected with the monks who lived there and carries within blessings and prayers from many years ago. At Mount Athos there are dozens of cells and some of them are located there for centuries. The old wood has been carefully cut and preserved by monks with excellent techniques on processing wood. On the front they placed the canvas with the representation of Jesus. On the back side of the icon two parallel cross – beams have been placed to support the image as well as a leather hook.

As this icon is handmade and the wood processing is made exclusively by hand there might be small differences at the wood but not on the representation

Origin: Mount Athos

Dimensions: 20 x 21,5 x 2 cm