Embroidered Byzantine icon of Jesus Christ "Pantocrator" - framed, 21x27 cm
From the lofty vault of the dome of every holy Orthodox church, Jesus Christ, depicted as Pantocrator, bestows His blessing upon those who walk with faith in His Holy dwelling.
The placement of this icon is connected with the name "Pantocrator". The word originates from the Greek language and decrypts as "The Ruler of All" or "The All-Powerful Protector". This name is also found in the Creed - the attributes of ruling over all being a common trait of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty ...".
In the icon, Jesus Christ is depicted wearing the ancient garment, a red hyton (a long and narrow tunic with wide sleeves, worn by both women and men) and a blue hymation (an old, large mantle, fastened with a clasp on the chest or shoulder) covering one shoulder.
The red color of the hyton in the iconographic representation signifies the life and sacrifice through which He was glorified. Through this hue, Christ-Man is depicted, He who incarnated, sacrificed Himself on the Cross, passed through death and Resurrection, Ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
The blue of the hymation suggests that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father, "The Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible," and expresses a divine nature. In His left hand, He holds the Gospel, usually closed, while with His right hand, He blesses, in the manner of the priests of the Holy Orthodox Church.
What attracts attention is the halo, in the midst of which, through the sign of the Holy Cross, three Greek letters are arranged - "ὁ ὤν" - which translate to "The One Who is" (Exodus 3:14).
