Media in category sinai icon of christ pantocrator the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. Materials this icon is painted using the following materials. In which christ is presented in the act of blessing with his right hand while holding a closed gospel book in his left. This is one of the earliest christian icons, known as a pantocrator, discovered in the monastry of saint katerina in sinai. The iconic image of christ pantocrator was one of the first images of christ developed. Byzantine art and the pantocrator francisco guerrero. The gospel book in the icon is closed, but jesus knows what is inside. An icon where christ has an open book is called christ the teacher. 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 hagia sophia icon 8 x 10 rating required name required. Christ pantocrator sinai icon the prayer foundation. The icon of christ pantocrator is one of the most widely used religious images of orthodox christianity. Christ is distant from us and sometimes his face is stern. Sotiriou, in their book on the icons of the monastery of saint catherine at sinaia landmark in studies of byzantine paintinghave already published, as no.
The icon of the pantocrator from the monastery of saint catherine at mount sinai is one of the oldest surviving icons in existence and one of the few early icons to have survived the icon controversy of the 8th century in the christian east. Yet in other iconic depictions such as that of the balkan churches, we find the pantocrator with dancing eyes. This is the oldest known icon of christ pantocrator, written in the sixth century and preserved in the remote monastery of st. Greek orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator 23 of sinai. A deesis is a seeking or an imploring of christ for the salvation of man. In the halflength image, christ holds the new testament in his left hand and makes the gesture of blessing with his right. Christ pantocrator the word pantocrator is of greek origin meaning ruler of all century holy monastery of st. His mouth tiny with the effort of suppressing a smile and his fingers thin and dancing where they hold the book. Still, the formal breakdown lets us list the image attributes into a clear and understandable way. Christ pantocrator sinai icon christ, ruler of all in quoting the septuagint, st. Imp0801 the sinai christ icon christ the pantocrator.
It is the image of the glorified christ reigning on his heavenly throne. Select from both options paints and size to see the price of the icon. Christ pantocrator is an icon of christ represented full or halflength and fullfaced. Sometimes this is a gesture of blessing and in others it is an oratorical motion. Orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator 23, copy of the encaustic icon of sinai, christ pantocrator. The icon of christ pantocrator, the allpowerful creator, is the most frequently written icon of the eastern church. Generally speaking, in medieval eastern roman church art and architecture, an iconic mosaic or fresco of christ pantokrator occupies the space in the central dome of the church, in the halfdome of the apse, or on the nave vault. Ive selected a representation of christ as a pantocrator, located in the church of the dormition, in daphni, greece. The gospel is the book by which we are judged, and his merciful blessing expresses loving kindness. Jesus christ was originally depicted without a beard. Christ pantocrator this is an early type of the christ pantocrator. This image of christ is the most widelyused subject in all of orthodox christianity, appearing on the domes and iconostases of churches, as well as on panel icons in homes and chapels everywhere.
Christ pantocrator of mount sinai orthodox icon legacy. It is the icon of he who is the core of the christian faith. The meaning of pantocrator is almighty or allpowerful. It is the earliest known version of the pantocrator style that still survives today. Learn about the icon of christ pantocrator saint sebastian.
Legacy icons christ pantocrator sinai icon mounted. Christ pantocrator of mount sinai orthodox icon legacy icons. 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. Paul uses the word pantokrator once ii corinthians 6. In both icons jesus is holding a book, sometimes open. 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.
The genuine hagiography christ pantocrator sinai christ pantocrator of st. Icons were first used in early christianity to convey concepts from the bible through images to a population that was mostly illiterate. Christ pantocrator is an orthodox icon or picture of christ. Catherines monastery at sinai is one of the oldest eastern roman. The icon of christ pantokrator is one of the most common religious images of orthodox christianity. During the iconoclastic period of the 8th and 9th centuries roughly, the. Christ is traditionally shown with a short beard and long dark hair parted in the middle, holding a jewelstudded book of the gospels in his left arm and blessing us with his right hand. Pantocrator sinai pantocrator is the greek word meaning ruler of all, and many icons are modeled after this original. Catherine in egypts sinai is a wonderful place to visit, interesting in every respect, but it is not famous throughout the world simply for its facilities nestled up against the foot of mount sinai. In the catacombs, the underground tombs where the early christians worshipped, christ was depicted as the good. In christian iconography, christ pantocrator greek, ancient to 1453. Chatzidakis argues for a date in the mid6th century on the basis of the panels classical style, which was favored at that time 205207. In which christ is presented in the act of blessing with his right hand while holding a closed gospel book. Christ pantocrator iconography of christ medieval art projects.
This image of christ is the most widelyused subject in all of orthodox christianity, appearing on the domes and iconostases of churches, as well as on panel icons in. Christ pantocrator iconography of christ medieval art. The mosaics were made with 2200 kg of pure gold, experts have estimated. Acrylic or tempera paints lime, pine, or alder board gesso colored wax gold leaf linseed oil hide glue varnishes mordant, kauri gum, acrylstyrolicsize the icon of christ the pantocrator is available in several sizes. Pantocrator or pantokrator, usually translated as almighty or allpowerful, is derived from one of many names of god in judaism the pantokrator, largely an eastern orthodox or eastern catholic theological. Christ pantocrator icon, st catherines monastery, sinai. 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. Catherine of sinai, greek orthodox handmade icon on wood. Pantocrator means the almighty, or powerful, referring to the omnipotence of jesus christ as the son of god. A russian thirteenth to fourteenthcentury icon depicting christ pantocrator. Pantocrator, a description of the sinai christ icon youtube.
This painting is considered one of the oldest byzantine religious icons and is the earliest known work of the pantocrator style lowden, 66. The image of christ pantocrator was one of the first images of christ developed in the early christian church and remains a central icon of the eastern and oriental orthodox churches. The buddha and the pantocrator the christian century. Dome jesus christ pantocrator ruler of the universe. This is the oldest known example of the christ pantocrator iconographic type. The cathedral in monreale, palermo, is regarded as the most beautiful of the norman churches in sicily.
Japanese christ pantocrator by theophilia on deviantart. The christ pantokrator icons are also called christ the teacher. Pantocrator is the greek word meaning ruler of all, and many icons are modeled after this original. Pantokrator is used in the book of revelation 9 times revelation 1. Chatzidakis argues for a date in the mid6th century on the basis of the panels classical style, which was favored at. Icon of christ the pantocrator of mt sinai imp08015.
As in subsequent examples, christ holds a book in his left hand and blesses the viewer with his right. The icon of christ pantocrator, from the sacred monastery of the. The oldest known christ pantocrator icon from sinai published by pilgriminfo on the monastery of st. Christ pantocrator, orthodox christian serigraph icon at. Sinai is the oldest known image of jesus christ in existence. I was commissioned to make an image of the jesus christ pantocrator in the style of japanese woodblock prints as a companion piece of the japanese madonna of tender mercy that i had previously done. The oldest known christ pantocrator icon from sinai. This icon has all of the appearances of a hand painted icon, it has carefully been selected from an enhanced silk screen collection executed in russia. Acrylic or tempera paints lime, pine, or alder board gesso colored wax gold leaf linseed oil hide glue varnishes mordant, kauri gum, acrylstyrolicsize this icon of christ the pantocrator is available in. Technically, if the book is closed it is a christ pantokrator icon.
Christ is portrayed as both the righteous judge and the lover of mankind. Christ pantocrator is a painted wood panel dating back to the 6th century from st. The word pantocrator is of greek origin meaning ruler of all. Its been one of my favorite icons of christ since i began really trying to learn more about the orthodox church, fourteen years ago. Catherines monastery at sinai is one of the oldest eastern roman religious icons, dating from the 6th century ad. This collection was selected because of its faithfulness to the canonical russian icon. Catherines monastery at sinai, is one of the oldest byzantine religious icons, dating from the sixth century ce.
He holds the book of the gospels in his left hand and blesses with his right hand the icon portrays christ as the righteous judge and the lover of mankind, both at the same time. Jesus christ pantocrator icon from mount sinai christ. Wearing a tunic chiton and a draped outer garment himation, christ makes the sign of blessing with the right hand and holds in the left a very thick gospel book with a cover adorned with jewels and precious stones. Generally speaking, in byzantine church art and architecture, an iconic mosaic or fresco of christ pantocrator occupies the space in the central dome of the church it is the tradition of the church to depict god is with us by having a.
The oldest known icon of christ pantocrator is found in saint catherines monastery on mount sinai and is from the 6 th c. The painted decoration and the representation of christ pantocrator are the work of anatole dauvergne in 1859. I wanted to introduce the icon i chose for the bookmark i recently had designed for the orthodox book club. The pose is based off of the sinai christ pantocrator but in traditional japanesestyle clothing. Using the same split photograph technique, constas discovered a timid, slightly sadlooking young man.
Here, christ is depicted with a stern face that intensely gazes upon visitors that are looking up towards the dome mosaic. Christ pantocrator in the monreale cathedral duomo the cathedral in monreale, built c. Greek orthodox icon of jesus christ pantocrator 23 of. Jesus christ as pantocrator is a mosaic dating back to 10801100 that sits in the main dome of the church of dormition in daphni, greece herbert, 20. Pantocrator sinai icon 32099 catholic family gifts. Aside from that one occurrence, the apostle john in the book of revelation is the only new testament author to use the word pantokrator. Pantokrator is a greek word combined from if translatedall and the strength. Christ is identifiable by his cruciform halo, and holds a book, denoting the new testament, while making a gesture of blessing. One of the most important icons in the monasterys collection and represents the two faces of christ. In christian iconography, christ pantocrator greek.
Pantocrator, almighty, is one of the many names of god used in the bible. His right hand is shown opening outward, signifying his gift of blessing, while the left hand and arm is clutching a thick gospel book. Nowhere is this strangeness more apparent than in the majestic sixthcentury christ pantocrator of sinai, an icon whose asymmetry has been the subject of endless commentary. Christ pantokrator is one of the most common images in orthodox iconography. It refers to christ as sabaoth, lord of hosts, the ruler of all, and the sustainer of the universe. Sinai and is the oldest surviving pantocrator icon in existence. When the book is open, it signifies christ as the teacher.