Icon of the Lord Pantocrator on the throne (Savior on the throne, Manuel the Savior)
horses of the Lord Almighty there are two more synonymous names - Savior Almighty And Pantocrator. The Lord is called Savior (which means Savior in Old Church Slavonic) because He saved humanity from the original sin committed by the first parents Adam and Eve, redeeming it at the cost of His suffering during the Passion of Christ. And the word Pantocrator is equivalent to the word Almighty, because from the Greek language Pantocrator is translated as All-Powerful, Almighty. The Savior called Himself Almighty in the last book of the New Testament, “The Revelation of John the Theologian”: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to everyone according to his deeds... I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the First and the Last, who was and is and is to come, the Almighty.” Calling Christ Almighty proves the dogma of the Incarnation, the incarnation of God. Jesus Christ is also omnipotent - as the Earthly King who rules all people, and God, who created the Earth and all creatures on it, is omnipotent.
The very first icon of the Lord Pantocrator was the half-length encaustic icon of Christ Pantocrator in the Egyptian monastery of St. Catherine on the Sinai Peninsula. On it the Savior is depicted in a pose that has now become typical of the iconography of the Pantocrator: His right hand blesses, in His left Jesus Christ holds the Gospel. In the eyes of Christ Pantocrator there are no reflections or glare - He Himself emits Divine light. Later, this artistic technique will become widely used in Orthodox icon painting, becoming one of the canons of painting not only Christ, but also the Saints. By pointing to the revealed gospel and blessing at the same time, Jesus clearly shows us the way to the salvation of our souls. In the shoulder painting of the image of the Savior Almighty, hands are not visible for obvious reasons.
One of the common variants of the iconography of Christ Pantocrator is Lord Almighty on the throne or Savior on the throne. Christ is depicted here in full growth, sitting on the throne as the Heavenly Judge and King. The right hand still blesses, and the left holds the open Gospel. However, there is a variant of the icon of the Lord Pantocrator on the throne, where the position of the Savior’s hands may be different: the right hand may point to the lines of the revealed Gospel, indicating the primacy of sacred power over secular power; this iconography of Christ Pantocrator is called Manuilov Spas or Spas Golden Riza. According to legend, the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos himself painted this icon of the Savior Pantocrator on the throne, but at the time of painting the image he quarreled with a Greek priest and ordered him to be punished for disagreeing with the basileus. At night, Manuel had a dream: Christ ordered the angels to punish the emperor for interfering in the affairs of the Church. Waking up, Manuel discovered wounds on his body, and looking at the painted icon, he was stunned: the Savior changed the position of his right hand. Now she did not bless, but pointed to the lines of the Gospel of John, where it was written: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” From that day on, Manuel always put the sacred above the royal. The image of Manuel the Savior received the name Golden Robe for the rich gilded frame that once adorned the original icon.
Another common image of the Savior on the throne is Savior in Strength. This image literally depicts Christ at the moment of His Second Coming, described by John the Theologian. The figure of the Lord Almighty on the throne is surrounded by heavenly forces - a red rhombus, a symbol of divine fire, enclosed in a blue circle - the Kingdom of Heaven, endless in its grace. woven from angelic ranks, inscribed in turn in a red rectangle - the earthly kingdom, at the corners of which animals are depicted - symbols of evangelists preaching in all four corners of the world.
In Holy Scripture.
(See the article Lord of Hosts), found in the OT: “Lord Almighty, God of Israel!” (Bar 3.1), “The omnipotent King, the highest, God Almighty” (3 Mac 6.2), “...in the power of the Lord Almighty are the gates of death” (Ps 67.21) - and in the NT: “And I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:18). In the Revelation of John the Theologian the texts: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord, who is and was and is to come, the Almighty” (1.8), “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, is and is coming” (4.8) - point to Christ’s Second Coming.
The use of the name “Almighty” in relation to Jesus Christ is known from monuments of Byzantine, Balkan, and Old Russian art. The most common version of iconography is a half-length image of the Savior, blessing with his right hand and holding the Gospel in his left. There are also other images of Christ, accompanied by the name “Pantocrator”: life-size (for example, a fresco in the Church of the Holy Unmercenaries in Kastoria, XII century), on the throne (icon, after 1356, Archbishop's Palace, Nicosia (Cyprus); icon, 1603, SNKHG). Differences may concern the image of the Gospel (open or closed), sometimes instead of the Gospel Christ holds a scroll (icon, 1262-1263, National Museum, Ohrid, Macedonia; icon, 13th century, Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos), there may be differences in the writing of the blessing right hand ( at the chest or to the side, the gesture is directed outward or towards oneself) and finger-shaped.
The formation of the belt type of image of the Lord Pantocrator occurs in the 6th century. (for example, an icon from the monastery of the Great Martyr Catherine in Sinai), at the same time images appear on coins (for example, a coin of Justin II, 565-578, inscription: Rex regnatium). In monumental painting, this image acquired special significance in the post-iconoclast period. They began to place it in the dome, the most important place in the system of temple painting. The meaning of the image is known from the Word of Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople (858-867; 877-886), which he said at the consecration of the Constantinople church of the monastery of the Mother of God Odigon or the palace church of the Mother of God Fara: “He [Christ] seems to be surveying the earth and pondering its decoration and device" (῾Ομιλία 10. 6 // Θωτίου ῾Ομιλίαι / ῎Εκδ. Β. Λαούρδας. Θεσσαλονίκη, 1959. Σ. 102 ). The Lord Pantocrator, the Heavenly King, surrounded by a retinue of archangels in lorate robes, is represented in the dome of the Cathedral of Saints Sophia in Kyiv (1037-1045); in the dome of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Daphne Monastery (circa 1100) - without an angelic entourage. In the dome of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo (1143-1146), the medallion with the Lord Almighty is surrounded by the ranks of heavenly powers, and along the border of the medallion there is a Greek text: “Heaven is my throne, earth is the footstool of my feet, so says the Lord Almighty.” In Sicilian basilicas that do not have a dome, the image of the Lord Pantocrator is placed in the conch of the apse. Thus, in the mosaics of the cathedrals in Montreal (1180-1190) and in Cefalu (1148), Christ is presented with an open Gospel, on the pages of which the text is written in Latin and Greek: “I am the light of the whole world...”, the most common in the images of the Lord Almighty, and on the sides of the face there is an inscription: IC XC O παντοκρατωρ. The image of the Lord Pantocrator can be combined with other images of Christ. Thus, in the painting of the vault of the Church of St. Stephen in Kastoria (12th century), next to the medallion with the image of the Lord Pantocrator, medallions with Christ Emmanuel and Christ the Ancient Day are presented.
The image of the Lord Pantocrator became especially widespread in monumental painting and on icons in the Paleologian era. In addition to the inscription: παντοκρατωρ (icons: 1363, GE; XIV century, Pantokrator monastery on Mount Athos; late XV century, 1607, early XVII century, XVIII century - all in SNKHG), on the icons of the Lord Pantocrator there are epithets Ελεημων (Merciful), ψυχο σωστΗС (Soul Savior; 1st half of the 14th century, National Museum, Ohrid). A whole gallery of images of the Lord Pantocrator is presented in the mosaics of the Chora Monastery (Kakhriye-Jami) in K-pol (1316-1321), including with the epithet Η χωρα των ζωντων (Village of the Living).
“Erminia” by Dionysius Furnoagrafiot, early 18th century (Part 4. § 1), prescribes the depiction of the Lord Pantocrator in a dome with an inscription from the texts of either Deuteronomy (Deut. 32.39), or the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Is. 45.12), as well as calls the name “Almighty” the first among other “common names that are written on the icons of Jesus Christ” (Part 4. End. No. 7).
As in Byzantine monuments, images in the dome of the Lord Pantocrator in Russian art are often accompanied by inscriptions on the frame of medallions: for example, in the Church of the Savior on Ilyin Street in Novgorod (1378), painted by Theophanes the Greek, the text of the psalm: “Lord, from heaven to earth look at the sons of the slain to hear and to loose the chained” (Ps 101. 20-21), in the Church of the Assumption on Volotovo Field (80s of the 14th century, destroyed): “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, who filled heaven and earth with Your glory. ..” (Isaiah 6:3).
Half-length icons of the Lord Pantocrator are usually the middle of the Deesis rank (for example, Vysotsky rank, 80-90s of the 14th century, Tretyakov Gallery; Zvenigorod rank, around 1400, Tretyakov Gallery). Since the 15th century, on Russian icons of the Lord Almighty, on the pages of the opened Gospel, the text has been found: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11.28), first noted on the icon “The Savior on the Throne” (14th century, GTG).
Since the 16th century, the inscription “Almighty” has been found on Russian icons (for example, an icon from the 1st half of the 16th century, Tretyakov Gallery, P. D. Korin Museum).
Illustrations:
Lord Almighty. Obverse solid. 685-695 (Cabinet of medals of the National Library, Paris);
Lord Almighty. Icon. 1262 - 1263 (National Museum, Ohrid);
Lord Almighty. Mosaic c. Martorana in Palermo. 1146 - 1151;
Saved in strength. Icon. Tver. XV century (TG).
The oldest image of the Savior that has survived to our time is, since in the 6th century Emperor Justinian donated it as a gift to the Sinai monastery, where it was discovered in the 19th century. Pantocrator is translated from Greek as Almighty.
The definition of “Almighty” expresses the dual nature of Jesus Christ - divine and human. The divinity of the Savior lies in the fact that He, the Son of the Lord and the Heavenly King, is included in the Holy Trinity and will become the Judge at the Last Judgment, before which each person will be held accountable for his deeds. The human nature of the Savior also finds expression in the definition “Almighty,” since, being the Messiah, He took on the mission of saving humanity, sacrificing Himself and accepting the martyr’s cross.
As history testifies, since ancient times the icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator has been in most churches as the image of the Savior in all His power; the same image often became the theme for painting domes in both Orthodox and Catholic churches.
Description of the icon
Certain canons in the iconographic depiction of Jesus Christ had already developed by the 9th century. On the icon of Christ Pantocrator, His image corresponds to the age when Jesus began His preaching. The appearance of the Savior has features characteristic of His time: long shoulder-length hair, a mustache, a beard, but an extraordinary aura of strength, authority and, at the same time, humanity seems to emanate from His face.
In the icon, Jesus Pantocrator is dressed, as a rule, in a long red tunic and a blue himation draped over him, which should symbolize the harmony between His heavenly and earthly principles. True, this canon is not always observed: for example, on the icon of Andrei Rublev “The Savior in Power” Christ appears in golden royal robes.
There are three varieties of the Pantocrator icon: a half-length image of the Savior, in full growth and seated on the royal throne, which emphasizes his status as the King of Heaven; in his left hand He holds the Holy Scripture, and his right hand is raised in a blessing gesture.
Each element on the icon “Lord Pantocrator” is full of deep meaning, including the folding of the fingers on the Savior’s right hand: two of them, raised up, not only bless, but also symbolize His dual hypostasis, human and divine, and three fingers joined together, the Most Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Meaning of the icon
It is impossible to overestimate the significance of the “Christ Pantocrator” icon, in which the Savior is revealed in all His greatness after the torment He endured and crucifixion on the cross, which in His time was considered a shameful execution.
His image serves for all believers as a promise of the triumph of justice in the Kingdom of Heaven and makes us think that each of us must repent, renounce an unrighteous life and walk only in the ways of the Lord.
What do they pray for in front of the icon of Christ Pantocrator?
Prayer in front of this icon helps in finding spiritual harmony, strengthening steadfastness in faith, and consolation in difficult moments of life. The soul is cleansed by prayer from impurity and is directed to the true path, avoiding the evil path. Prayer helps protect against evil machinations, deception and all sorts of troubles; it helps to achieve not only spiritual harmony, but also harmony with the outside world and loved ones.
In the most difficult hour, you can turn to the icon of Christ Pantocrator with a prayer coming from a pure heart, and receive consolation and resolution in a difficult life situation, whether it concerns your health, family relationships or problems with children, for the Lord is omnipotent and will answer a sincere prayer With your help.
The icon “Christ Pantocrator” does not have a special day of celebration, since Christ Himself embodies the holiday.
Prayer
Oh, Merciful and Mighty King of Heaven, Son of the Lord Jesus Christ! You sacrificed Your life, saving the human race from torment and suffering. Thank you, our Savior, for not leaving us in difficult moments. Hear our prayers, for we lift up our words to You! Do not leave us in sorrow and troubles, deliver us from anger and selfishness, give us will and perseverance. Heal from mental and physical illnesses. Guide us on the true path, forgive us our sins and give us Your blessing. We pray before Your most holy icon, You alone are our support and protection! Protect our children and our homes from enemies and adversity! Be near and do not leave us until the end of our days. We repent and ask forgiveness from You, Son of God, and from the Lord, Your Father, for all our sinful actions and thoughts. Deliver us from suffering and become our earthly patron! We will never cease to honor and glorify Your image! May we praise Your name, Son of the Lord, Jesus Christ! Let Your will be done. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Forever and ever. Amen.
In every country in the world there is at least a small group of people - believing Orthodox Christians. That is why the image of Christ is forever imprinted in world icon painting.
A clear expression of His veneration is the icon of the Savior Almighty. It is difficult to imagine the home of a Christian family without this image. The celebration of this icon takes place annually on September 8th.
History of the image
History has not preserved the exact date when the icon of Jesus Christ the Pantocrator was painted.
All that remains is evidence of its external appearance, the prototype of which was the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, glorified in the 4th century. It was during this period that several icons of the Lord were discovered in the catacomb churches. On them He was depicted as the Good Shepherd, the youth Emmanuel and even Orpheus. From the 4th century, icon painters began to paint Christ in the image of a radiant youth in white robes, surrounded by a host of apostles.
More about the icons of the Lord:
And a little later, the Almighty is conveyed to us as an adult man with a long beard, holding a book in one hand, the other extended to the people in the gesture of an orator or preacher. Since the 5th century, Jesus has been depicted as a king.
The icon of the Almighty greatly outraged the heretics who did not recognize the divine essence of Christ. They considered Him an ordinary man upon whom the Holy Spirit had descended.
But the Ecumenical Councils, which affirmed the Orthodox doctrine, testified that Jesus Christ is the God-man of divine and human nature at the same time. He appeared into the world in the form of a man in order to, through His Life, heal humanity from sin and open the door to the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the 8th century, under the reign of Leo III the Isaurian, an iconoclast and heretic, Orthodox icons were actively destroyed, and Christians were imprisoned and subjected to terrible torture and execution. Soon, with God's help, the heretics were defeated and condemned at the VII Ecumenical Council. Since then, the icon of the Savior Almighty has become a symbol of the truth of the Orthodox faith.
In modern churches, the Image of Pantocrator is traditionally placed above the central dome of the temple and in the center of the iconostasis.
Lord Almighty. St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv
Description of the image
“Lord Pantocrator” is not an icon as such, but an iconographic type of depiction of Christ.
He is shown in the image of a royal person, standing or sitting on a throne. In His left hand He holds a book (scroll or Gospel), symbolizing preaching, and His right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing. There are also shoulder and waist versions of His image.
Important! The Almighty is often called in Greek "Pantocrator", which translated means "All-Powerful and Almighty, Ruler of the World, Ruler of everything."
Ancient icon
The very first image is considered to be an icon from the Sinai Monastery. Christ is depicted in traditional vestments, seated on a throne with a pillow and stool at his feet.
The throne is an attribute of royal dignity. This is exactly how we will see the Savior on the Day of the Last Judgment, when He appears on the sinful earth in order to carry out the Judgment of God on the living and the dead.
In icon painting, there are several interpretations of the Almighty: Manuel the Savior, the Savior in Power, the Soul Savior, the Merciful.
Image of Jesus Christ Lord Almighty. Temple icon
Meaning and help
Jesus Christ is the main healer of human souls and bodies, who knows everything, and our prayer should be directed to Him first and foremost.
Before the image of the Almighty, grateful Christians offer thanks to the Lord for His merciful help and support. Others pray for blessings and help:
- in the healing of spiritual and physical ailments;
- about giving consolation in sorrows and imparting spiritual benefits;
- about getting rid of sinful thoughts and mental traumas;
- about guidance on the true path;
- about protection from evil people and deception on their part;
- about protection from cruelty and meanness;
- about preserving the marriage union and achieving harmony in it.
Church history includes many miracles and healings that occurred after praying before the Face of the Almighty.
Lord Pantocrator, Sucevita Monastery in Romania
Rules of prayer
You can make a prayer to Christ on any day, at any time of the day, precisely when you need to say a prayer of gratitude or petition. After all, the Almighty is Truth, Holiday, Love, Grace, Joy.
Children under 7 years of age are indicated as infants (Jr.); adolescents under 15 years of age are considered adolescents (Adolescent). The notes do not need to indicate last names, patronymics, professions, or degree of relationship.
Attention! Any icon is not a picture with an interesting plot. The icon is rigor and tenderness at the same time, which brings us closer to God and encourages believers to think about the values of life and their state of mind.
And during prayer, each of us is filled with God’s grace, which prompts the conscience and opens prayer. And with constant thanksgiving to the Almighty, prayer and living according to church canons, the life of every Christian will certainly change for the better.
Watch a video about icons of Jesus Christ
(9 votes: 5.0 out of 5)Almighty- 1) the name of the One, the meaning of which is that everything that exists, the visible and invisible world, is contained by Divine power and omnipotence; the concept of the Almighty is close in meaning to the concept of “King of kings, Lord of lords” (); 2) the name of the Lord; emphasizing that any Sovereign action initiated flows through the Only Begotten Son; 3) (Lord Almighty) iconographic image of the Savior, whose distinctive features are: a blessing gesture, a book (or scroll) in his left hand.
If the Lord holds everything in His power, then why does He not prohibit demons from doing evil?
The factor of their moral freedom underlay the possibility of becoming virtuous spirits, because virtue implies not a fatal or violent, but a voluntary and conscious disposition towards the Good (see:). Therefore, if demons did not possess the ability of moral choice, including the ability to evade God, then they could not become virtuous.
Why does God the Father rule the world through His Son?
Being One of the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Father, nevertheless, is not a delimited or isolated Divine Person. Indeed, despite the trinity in Persons, God is the absolutely One and Undivided Lord.