Date: 6th c.
Style: Encaustic
Heritage: Byzantine
"Pantocrator" is the Greek word meaning
"Ruler of All," and many icons are
modeled after this original. Christ is
traditionally shown with a short beard
and long dark hair parted in the middle,
holding a jewel-studded Book of the
Gospels in His left arm and blessing us
with His right hand. Three fingers touch
representing His Divinity, and two fingers
are up to symbolize that He is fully God
and fully Man, the forefinger bent for his
Incarnation.
The Saviour has a serious and intent look,
like the King of All looking upon His people.
His face is not symmetrical but has a look
of dignity and calmness on one side and a
different look of arching of the eyebrows
causing enlivenment on the other. These
dissimilar but complimentary impressions
strike a harmony between the Divine and human
Natures of Christ. Worked in a an encaustic
or wax-melting technique, this great treasure
from the sixth century is one of the earlist
icons of Christ still in existence. It is one
of the famous icons at St. Catherine's
Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai preserved
by the ideal climate and in the lack of the 8th
and 9th centurys' iconoclastic persecution in
that area.
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