Modern icons of Jesus Christ. The main types of images of Jesus Christ. The meaning of the icon of Christ the Savior

The first Christians argued for a long time about whether it was even possible to depict Jesus Christ. Opponents said that the Old Testament forbids the depiction of God. Supporters argued that since the Lord came into the human world in the form of Christ, this prohibition can be considered obsolete. The controversy was so strong that a period of persecution of icons began. But in the end, the icons of Christ the Savior were accepted by the official church.

The iconography of Christ is not as diverse as, for example, the Virgin Mary. Perhaps this reflects some national characteristics, because in other countries there is generally no such strong veneration of icons. It is probably easier for people to perceive God, knowing that He, too, was once a child in the arms of His Mother.

The most common images

The first icon, according to legend, was precisely the face of the Savior - it was miraculously imprinted on the towel with which Christ wiped himself. Today this image is known as the Savior Not Made by Hands. It doesn’t matter what kind of icon of Christ the Savior will be in the house. The main thing is that the owners place it in the place of honor among other images.

• Catholicism has its own version of the origin of the first icon of the Savior Jesus Christ. During the way of the cross, the pious woman Veronica gave the sufferer a handkerchief so that He could wipe the blood from his face. There was a print left on the fabric. This is how “Veronica’s Plat” was born. Unlike the Orthodox version, it has a crown of thorns. The relic is now kept in Rome.

There is an opinion that both versions of the miraculous icon go back to the Shroud of Turin, which was simply kept folded and so visited different cities. The following icons are also common in the Orthodox Church:

• Savior Almighty - Christ is depicted waist-deep, in his left hand - a Book;

• The Savior is in power - in white robes he sits on the throne;

• Emmanuel - Savior at the age of a youth (teenager);

• Bishop the Great - Jesus in the vestments of a bishop;

• Good Silence - the Savior in the form of an Angel, before earthly incarnation. It is rare, although it has existed since the 15th century.

All these icons are canonical; in front of them you can read any prayers to the Lord, the Holy Spirit, God the Father.

What does the icon say?

When turning your gaze to the image of Christ, you must remember that the icon cannot contain God entirely. She is only an image, and only of an earthly incarnation. The divine essence cannot be comprehended by man. Just like an ant cannot fully comprehend the world around it, but only that part that it can perceive.

Descriptions of the appearance of the Savior are found among ancient historians, but in icons they are not followed verbatim, although the general features remain recognizable. In iconography, a tradition has developed to depict the Holy Face according to the rules of the golden ratio. The classic Russian version is Novgorod Spas. There are general rules:

• A halo in the shape of a cross - consists of 9 crossbars, according to the number of angelic ranks.
• Expressive eyes, their size is larger than usual.
• Greek letters, abbreviation of one of the names of God - Jehovah.
• Slavic abbreviation of the name Jesus Christ.

Additional elements can be a scarf(s), words of prayer, angels, saints.

Rare icons of Christ

A very famous icon is located in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, its author is Evgraf Sorokin, an outstanding Russian icon painter. His Savior is very recognizable - his long hair falls to his shoulders, his eyes are deep-set, and in their expression you can notice deep sadness. Although in most churches they prefer to use more classical images of Byzantine writing.

In the iconography of Christ, there are joint icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. They talk about the most difficult moment - the burial of Christ. The Mother of God presses the body of her Son, already immersed in the coffin, to her, his eyes are closed, his hands are folded on his chest. The image recalls the day when the coming Resurrection was still ahead, and few believed in it. The composition is easily recognizable, although many details on it may change, even the position of Christ's body.

The image of “Christ in the tomb” is also very rare - the body of the Savior rests on a stone bed, as was customary for burial among the Jews. Jesus lies on his back, in white shrouds, and wounds may be depicted on his body (on his arms and rib). Such icons should remind us of the price by which the entire human race was redeemed.

The meaning of the icon of Christ the Savior

The meaning of the icon of the Savior is to remind us that to this day He is the Living God, and not a book character from ancient legends. Therefore, every Christian is obliged to establish a personal relationship with Him. This is done through prayer. This is what images are intended for - to help a person escape from the hustle and bustle of the day and remember the main thing.

In earthly life, a person will face many problems, illnesses, and sorrows. This was his fate after the first people lost their heavenly abodes. The icon of the Savior helps believers remember that they have a reliable helper, faithful and devoted - Jesus. You can turn to Him in any trouble, repent, ask for strength, health. Also, in order to better understand God, you need to read and study the Holy Scriptures.

Correct prayer should bring peace to the soul, confidence that everything will be fine. If you still feel uneasy, you should ask for advice from a priest more experienced in spiritual matters.

Prayer 1 to the Lord Jesus Christ

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God! Much of Your goodness, for our sake and for our salvation, man was clothed in the flesh and crucified and buried, and with Your Blood renewing our corrupted nature, accept my repentance of sins and hear my words: I have sinned, Lord, in heaven and before You, in word, in deed , soul and body, and the thoughts of my mind, I transgressed Thy commandments, did not listen to Thy commandment, angered Thy Goodness, my God, but as Thy creation exists, I do not despair of salvation, but boldly come to Thy immeasurable Goodness and pray to You: Lord! in repentance, give me a contrite heart and accept me as I pray and give me a good thought, give me the thought of confessing my sins, give me tears of compunction, Lord, let me, by Thy grace, make a good beginning. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, the fallen one, and remember me, Thy sinful servant, in Thy Kingdom, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 2 to the Lord Jesus Christ

O God, Most Merciful Christ Jesus, Redeemer of sinners, for the sake of the salvation of the human race, You left, O All-Merciful, glorious Heaven, and You moved into this deplorable and sinful vale. Thou didst take upon Thy Divine shoulder our infirmities, and Thou didst bear our illnesses; You, O Holy Sufferer, were wounded for our sins and tormented for our iniquities, and therefore we, O Lover of Mankind, offer our humble prayers to You: accept them, O Most Blessed Lord, and condescend to our weaknesses and do not remember our sins, and Turn away from us the angry intention of marking our sins.
By Your dishonorable blood, renewing our fallen nature, renew. Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, and us, in the ashes of our sins, and comfort our hearts with the joy of Your forgiveness. With a cry and immeasurable tears of repentance, we fall at the feet of Your Divine mercy: cleanse us all. Our God, by Your Divine grace from all the untruths and iniquities of our life. May we, in the holiness of Your love for mankind, praise Your all-holy name, with the Father, and the Most Good, and the Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Icon of Christ the Savior - meaning, what it helps with was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

He changed the dogmas of Christianity, including the veneration of icons. The interpretation of the ban itself has also changed. Now it was forbidden to invent images, since this was considered the creation of idols. At the same time, the church allowed the depiction of the miraculous faces of the Savior. Moreover, it became the most popular theme in iconography. But Jesus had to be portrayed according to the rules.

Standards for depicting Jesus Christ

The iconography of Jesus Christ was previously subject to certain rules. The main, characteristic features began to be used in icon painting, although there was more than one version of the canonical image of the Savior.

• The characteristic features of Jesus included a halo with a cross inscribed in it. He showed the incarnation of God the Father in God's son. But in the image of “Jesus Halki” only the cross was depicted.
• The first letters of the name of God were used on the icons. For example, if there is “IC XC” next to the face or halo, then even without decoding it becomes clear that Jesus is depicted.
• The face of Christ itself was depicted as elongated, with refined facial features and an expressive look, wearing the clothes of ordinary people (shirt, cape).
• The face in the center of the icon seems to be looking at you. However, there were also iconoclasts who still referred to the Old Testament and prohibited these images of the holy face. And icon worshipers believed that man has the right to contemplate his creator - God - in human form. And that it does not violate biblical restrictions.

In iconoclastic disputes, this issue became fundamentally important. After all, this influenced not only church art. The icon must depict the only image of God. It was he who had to be considered central. And the construction of the entire ladder of images of the structure of the universe depended on this image.

Among the first Christians, such vivid disputes were not recorded, since the images at that time were more iconic and symbolic. Realism was not required from them. Only the Christians themselves understood what was on the icon and what meaning it carried. Only they could read the entire secret intent of the image. One of these icons includes the Sinai image of Christ Pantocrator.

Description of the image of Christ Pantocrator

The icon was painted in the style of late antique encaustic. Juicy, quite realistic, masterly. These images of Christ date back to the 5th-6th centuries. The images stand out due to their unusual realism, compared to the standard style of writing. Some even showed a certain sensuality on their faces.

It is this iconographic type and these physiological features that will be traced until the twentieth century. If you look at several early images of Jesus (the image of the Savior in the composition “Transfiguration”, the image of Christ Coming on the clouds, the half-length image of Pantocrator), then one image can be traced between them, the icons are close to each other. And this could only mean that the face of Jesus was already fully formed. And the images were approved even before the start of iconoclastic disputes. During the period of controversy, all that remained was to provide the theological statement that was so lacking. Which is what was done.

Modern iconography of Christ

Nowadays, iconography is very diverse. And in order to highlight the basic types of images, we can take as an example the main image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. How did the first, miraculous icon appear? According to the legends of Christians, the Eastern tradition is true, which dates back to the sixth century.

Legend of the first icon of Jesus Christ

According to legend, the Edessa king Abharem V, suffering from leprosy, having heard about the miracles performed by Jesus, sent his messenger to the Savior with a request to heal him. And if Christ cannot appear, then at least send the face of the Savior, so that with the help of the face he can receive healing from his illness. But it was not easy to get through to Jesus. He was surrounded by a crowd. And the artist was unable to draw a portrait. Noticing this, Jesus washed his face and wiped it with a handkerchief. After which a face appeared on the scarf.

By the way, this is not the only version of the appearance of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The Western, medieval version of this tale arose around the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. And according to this version, the handkerchief was given to Jesus by the pious Veronica, who accompanied the Savior on the Way of the Cross. With this handkerchief Christ wiped blood and sweat from his face. And then the Image also appeared on the scarf.

Icons with a similar image of the Divine face were called “Plate of Veronica”. They depicted only the head and differed from the original version of the miraculous Mandylion by the crown of thorns that appeared on the head of Christ. Today this is the famous icon of Jesus Christ with the crown of thorns.

Image of Christ “Savior Wet Beard”

On the territory of Rus' there are also similar icons, for example, “Wet Beard of the Savior”. This face appeared in the 9th century. The oldest known image is the Novgorod Savior Not Made by Hands. In style, this design is closer to the classical type and corresponds to the Eastern legend about washing the face. The image is slightly different from the canonical one. In particular, here Jesus’ beard really seems to be moistened with water.

Savior Almighty

The most widespread image is known as the Pantocrator or Pantocrator. This is a chest-to-chest image of the Savior. There are also options for height, waist-length or on a throne. A scroll with scripture or the Gospel is depicted in the left hand, the fingers of the right hand are folded in a blessing gesture. The description of the icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator is mentioned in the 4th-6th centuries in Byzantium. The oldest such image dates back to the middle of the 6th century - this is Christ Pantocrator of the Sinai Monastery.

Faith in God embodied in man is precisely the correct meaning of the great icon. She laid the foundation for the dogma of the Incarnation. And this dogma became key among Christians. And the image has survived to this day and is found quite often. On frescoes in churches, in houses, decorates the domes of churches.

There are several options for the Almighty Savior, for example, the Savior is in power. This type of icon provides a full-length depiction of Jesus in a sitting position. The background is an image of the earth, the spiritual world and the invisible world in the form of a red square, a blue oval and a red diamond, respectively. There are similar icons without a background, they are called the Savior on the Throne.

Spas Emmanuel

Savior Emmanuel is represented by a special type of iconography. Its main difference from the canonical one is the depiction of Christ not in adulthood, but in childhood. However, all the usual attributes, such as a halo and a cross above the head, are present in this type of icon of the Savior. Most often, this image is not single; an example of this is the image of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. This is intended to emphasize the relationship of Christ with the Father God.

Deesis

On these icons, Jesus Christ is depicted in the center, surrounded by various biblical characters - the Virgin Mary, John, the apostles or other saints. The Savior himself is depicted as a Pantocrator on the throne.

This type of icon was first mentioned in the seventh century. The meaning of the icon is that the Savior is the intercessor of the human race before God the Father, delivers people’s prayers, and promises to be a merciful protector of everyone who turns to him. The image helps the believer to become closer to the Almighty, to repent, to cleanse the soul, and to receive forgiveness for sins.

Image of the “Present Queen”

Another type of iconography is “Presta Queen”. On it, Jesus is presented wearing the royal dalmatic, lore and kamilavka crown. In one hand he has a rod, in the other - the Gospel. This image conveys that God is connected to the church. And Christ is here in the role of priest.

It is not possible to examine all types of icons. We have described only the most basic ones. For example, you can find names of icons of Jesus Christ that do not correspond to standard canons at all. Here are some of them.

Saved the Good Silence

On it, Jesus is written in the form of an angel, that is, before taking on human form. The icon itself depicts a young man in light clothes, wings are visible behind his back, and a star-shaped halo of the Lord of Hosts above his head. His hands are empty. Since he has not yet descended to earth. And he has not yet become a mentor for humanity.

Spas the Great Bishop

Here we see the savior in the role of the priest. He wears magnificent clothes and a crown adorns his head. Here, like the Savior Almighty, he holds the Gospel and performs the blessing with his other hand.

Good Shepherd

In these icons, Christ is represented as a teacher and mentor. He is mainly depicted as an ordinary shepherd with his head bowed, carrying a lost sheep on his shoulders.

There are also icons of God Jesus Christ, the origin of which is taken from the Old Testament writings. For example, “Christ in the tomb.” This image is perhaps one of the most tragic in Christian iconography. Here the Savior is depicted dead, his body is on a bed next to the open coffin. Such images are purely symbolic, showing how meekly Christ accepted his fate.

There are also Catholic icons of Jesus Christ. They differ from the Orthodox in their free depiction of the Savior and Latin inscriptions.

Before any image of Christ, you can offer a prayer to the Savior, sincerely asking for forgiveness of sins and the mercy of the Lord.

The icon of the Savior is the central image in Orthodoxy. Since ancient times, it has been kept in every home. She was especially loved and revered, because it is an image of the Lord. There are many images of the Savior. And most of them are given miraculous powers. The icons radiate peace and exude incense. They cure many ailments, not only mental, but also physical.

Symbol and meaning of icons

Since ancient times, believers began to depict God, Saints and the Mother of God. Over time, the church took control of this art and established certain rules and boundaries that had to be followed in the painting. An icon is a kind of mediator between the spiritual divine world and man. Thanks to the holy image, any prayer will ascend to heaven much faster.

The icons of the Orthodox Church are full of various metaphors and associations, each element and each detail has its own hidden, but quite significant meaning. Any image carries a kind of code that reveals the essence of the church, man and faith. For example, the cross is martyrdom, the pointing finger is God’s providence, and the Saint with a spear is victory over evil. In addition, on some ancient icons you can see vines and grapes - a sign of the church.

The symbolic language of icon painting covers not only the gestures and positions of saints. It determines the composition itself, the image technique and even the colors. However, all this is subject to individual church canons. This was done in order to eliminate dual meaning and protect believers from the manifestation of heresy.

The history of the appearance of the first miraculous icons

Healing and helping images, according to church leaders, take their power from God's grace. The Orthodox Church recognizes many miraculous icons, about 1000 to be exact. These are mainly images of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

Many legends say that the first miraculous image is of the cloth with which Jesus wiped his face, and an imprint remained on it. It is also called Mandylion. Initially, the ancient Edessa king Abgar was healed from it. He was sick with leprosy.

One of the first mentions of miraculous icons is also the myrrh-streaming of the Pisidian Icon in the 6th century. Then oil flowed from the hand of the depicted Mother of God. This phenomenon was confirmed at the VII Ecumenical Council.

The most famous miraculous images of the world

History knows many sacred images that have helped and still heal many human ailments - both mental and physical. At the same time, some Orthodox icons heal infertility, others help in marriage and love, others fulfill wishes, etc. Therefore, queues of believers line up for them, thirsting for specific help. And there are also icons that almost all Orthodox Christians strive to see:

• Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Those who are almost desperate turn to this image. And he fulfills any request or prayer that comes from a pure heart. In addition, the Saint is the patron of sailors and travelers.
• Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. One of the most famous images of the Virgin Mary. In modern history, this icon is famous for the fact that during the Great Patriotic War it protected our soldiers and ordinary residents in besieged Leningrad. They say that this image helps many believers in trouble.
• Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. This is one of the oldest and most revered holy images in Rus', one that should be in every Orthodox family. It heals the body and soul and also protects from evil.

Miraculous icons, as a rule, are accompanied by some signs or significant events. They come to the rescue when believers especially require intercession.

How icons are recognized as miraculous

Many have heard about the healing properties of one or another divine image. There are also scientifically proven facts of the flow of myrrh and the fragrance of images. However, not every such case is recognized by the official church as miraculous. Over the course of many centuries, Orthodoxy has developed certain rules and canons according to which icons are recognized as miraculous.

Peter I can be considered a pioneer in Rus' in this matter. It was he who issued a number of specific decrees, thanks to which miraculous icons were removed from private homes and were to be kept exclusively in churches. Therefore, subsequently it was church images that received greater chances for recognition.

In addition, in pre-revolutionary, and even modern, Russia, to assess the authenticity of a miracle, Orthodox icons (photo or original) were placed in a special altar. There they were sealed, and in the presence of several witnesses, one of whom must necessarily be in the priesthood, they were checked.

This image is basic in Orthodoxy. Images of Christ have been present in all homes, regardless of income, since ancient times in Rus'. As a rule, the icon of the Savior is made strictly according to generally accepted church canons. This image gives people comfort and faith. Its main elements:

• A halo with an inscribed cross and three Greek letters that represent the expression: “I am who I am.”
• Purple chiton (chasuble). Symbolizes the human nature of the Savior.
• Blue himation (outerwear). Reminiscent of the divine origin of Jesus.

As a rule, now you can find only two types of images of Christ: in the form of an ordinary person or baby, and also in the form of the King of Kings. The icon of Christ the Savior is always located on the central dome of any Orthodox church, because this is considered the most honorable place.

There are several iconographic types of this icon in the main church canons.

Savior Not Made by Hands

This shrine is considered the very first in the world. History tells that the Icon of the Savior has two legends about its origin. One of them tells about the time of Christ’s life in Osroene. The local king Abgar V suffered for a long time from the terrible “black leprosy.” Suddenly he heard about an extraordinary man-miracle worker who visited his city. The king sent his painter Ananias to Jesus with a request to heal him. However, the artist still could not approach the Son of God - he was surrounded by a crowd of believers and admirers. Desperate, he decided to sketch Christ, but he could not depict his face. Finally, the Savior himself invited him to his place. To reward the painter, he asked to bring water, washed himself with it and dried himself with a brush. Miraculously, the water turned into paint, and the image of Christ appeared on the canvas. Having received the ubrus, King Avgar was healed and got rid of the ancient idols.

Another legend says that the holy image appeared on the handkerchief with which the Savior wiped his face before Calvary during his prayer. Only after the Ascension was this gift given to Ananias.

Savior Almighty

This is one of the fundamental images of Christ in icon painting. It is designed to show a saving, generous and creative God who holds the whole vast world in his hand. Here he is depicted with a blessing right hand and the Gospel. At the same time, the icon of the Savior shows all the boundless kindness and compassion of God.

This image in iconography began to take shape in the 6th century. At this time, almost all holy images were created in Constantinople. That is why the face and robes of Christ took on the uniform form that we now see in the church.

In Rus', the painting appeared around the 11th century. According to legend, the Savior Pantocrator was considered a prayer icon for Russian princes. It was even placed near the tombs of the Yaroslavl rulers Vasily and Constantine.

Savior on the throne

In this image, the Lord is depicted on the throne in full height. Here he is shown not only as the ruler of the whole world, but also as the only judge. His right hand is also raised in blessing, and his left holds the open Gospel. The throne symbolizes the vast Universe and defines the royal glory and power of the Lord.

However, this image is not the only one. There is another Orthodox icon - the icon of the Savior on the throne, where with his right hand he points to the Gospel. This is how the Lord determines the priority and primacy of sacred church power over secular power. There is a well-known legend that tells about a certain Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos. He independently painted the icon of the Savior on the throne, but he quarreled with one Greek priest and decided to punish him for his disagreement. At night, Manuel had a dream in which God was punishing him for interfering in church affairs. Waking up, the emperor discovered numerous wounds on his body. And, looking at the icon, he saw that the Savior had changed the position of his hand. Now he pointed to the lines of the open Gospel. It is known that this icon was called “Manuel the Savior”, or “Golden Robe of the Savior” (for its rich gilded frame).

Savior is in power

This is one of the most symbolic images of the Lord. This icon of Christ the Savior has not yet been fully solved and is interpreted in different ways. Here the Almighty sits at full height on the throne. In his hands is the open Gospel. And the most remarkable thing is that he is always depicted against the background of a red square with slightly elongated ends. The square here symbolizes the Earth. In addition, at its ends there are depicted an angel, a lion, an eagle and a calf. It is generally accepted that these are symbolic images of the faithful evangelists - Matthew, Mark, John and Luke. They seem to spread the teachings of Christ throughout the world.

On top of this red square is a blue oval. This is our spiritual world. It depicts angels, symbolizing all the powers of heaven. A red diamond is again drawn on top of this oval. It defines the world invisible to man.

There is a belief that in this image Jesus will appear at the end of time, at the Last Judgment.

Spas Emmanuel

As a rule, Jesus is depicted in all icons in a mature form, when he was baptized, performed miracles and was martyred. However, there are exceptions. The Icon of the Savior, the significance of which is difficult to overestimate, depicts Christ in infancy and adolescence. He is presented both in composition with other saints and separately. Moreover, the image of the Lord in these paintings is usually called “Savior Emmanuel.”

This icon symbolizes the predestination of everything on Earth, the fulfillment of the highest divine plan. The first such images appeared in some Italian mosaics in the 6th-7th centuries. In Rus', Emmanuel was written together with two angels.

The history of this image is based on some biblical texts. Emmanuel signifies the expression “God with us.” Most icons depict Jesus as a child of 12 years old. He has a rather wise and mature look for a child. Otherwise, he is described in the same way as the adult image of Christ.

Spas Blagoye Silence

He is also called the Angel of the Great Council. This is an icon of the Savior (photo or any other image of him), showing Christ before his earthly incarnation. He is represented by an angel - a young man with large wings behind his back. Above his head he has a cross or a special octagonal halo. It consists of red and black squares superimposed on each other. The colors represent the divinity and incomprehensibility of the Creator.

In Rus', this angel was depicted from the waist up, with a special eight-pointed halo and folded hands. The icon became most famous and popular in the 18th-19th centuries. The image of Christ symbolized humility and inaction in the face of destined trials and even death.

This icon enjoyed honor and respect among both Old Believers and pilgrims. However, it has not received proper distribution, and it is quite difficult to find ancient examples of it.

Orthodox icons: icon of the Savior Pantocrator

Just as the iconography of Jesus Christ occupies the central part of all ancient Orthodox iconography, so the Savior Pantocrator (photo icons are presented below) is an image that occupies the main place among all the many types of images of the Lord. The dogmatic meaning of this icon is very great: Christ is the Heavenly King and Judge, “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Lord who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” In almost every Orthodox church, in the central part of the dome there is this image, which can be found complete with traditional Russian Orthodox iconostases or as a single icon.

Description of the icon of the Savior Almighty

The Savior Christ on the icon can be depicted in different positions: sitting, waist-deep, full-length or chest-length, in the left hand with a scroll or the Gospel, and the right hand is in a blessing gesture.

The epithet “Almighty” expresses the dogma of the Incarnation, which symbolizes the Divine and human nature of the Savior. He is also called in Greek “Pantocrator”, where the first part of the word means “all”, and the second - “power”, that is, the All-Powerful and the Almighty. According to the literary translation - “It is possible for Him to create everything”, He is the “Ruler of the world” and “The Ruler of everything.”

The term “Almighty” appears repeatedly in the Old Testament; the ancient Jews called their “living” God, whom they worshiped, this way, then they began to address Jesus Christ this way.

Ancient icon

The appearance of the image of Christ Pantocrator in Byzantium dates back to the 4th-6th centuries. The oldest of the iconographic images is the icon called Christ Pantocrator from the Sinai Monastery (VI century).

The icon of the Savior Almighty “Savior on the Throne” is one of the most ancient diagrams, where Christ is depicted frontally, seated on a throne with a pillow, in traditional clothes and with a stool at his feet.

The early and first images of the Savior on the throne can be seen in the Roman catacombs (III-IV centuries). But the iconography would take final shape in the post-iconoclast period (10th century).

The throne has the meaning of an attribute of royal dignity. To the Old Testament prophets, God appeared seated on a throne. This is exactly how the Lord will appear on earth, on the Day of General Resurrection, to carry out His Last Judgment on all people living and dead.

The icon of the Almighty Savior “Manuel the Savior”, according to legend, belongs to the brush of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I, and is distinguished by a special gesture of the right hand, indicating the text of the Gospel.

There are several more interpretations of the image of Christ: “The Savior in Power”, in the traditional Russian iconostasis, as well as the icon of Christ seated on a throne surrounded by the Heavenly Host, Psychososter (Soul Savior), Eleemon (Merciful).

Iconoclasm

The icon of the Savior Almighty shows the age of Christ, which corresponds to the time when He began to preach. He is depicted with straight, shoulder-length hair and a small beard and mustache on his fair face.

According to the canon, the Savior wore a red tunic and a blue himation on top of it. Blue is a symbol of heaven, red is martyrdom and the color of blood. The vestments of Christ are interpreted as the solitude of the heavenly, earthly and spiritual. In the history of Christianity, icons became a point of contention between supporters of icon veneration, who pointed to the human and divine nature of Jesus, and heretics, who denied all this.

From the 4th to the 6th centuries there was an iconoclastic struggle, when thousands of icons, mosaics and frescoes were destroyed because they became a stronghold of faith for many people, and supporters of icon painting were severely punished. Only in 842 at the Council of Constantinople did adherents of orthodox views achieve victory, and the iconoclasts were anathematized. The icon of the Savior Pantocrator eventually became a symbol of victory over heresy.

Savior Almighty: icon, meaning

Before the image of this icon, prayers are offered by people who want to thank the Great Lord for help and support or to receive a blessing for planned deeds. Prayer to the icon of the Almighty Savior will help you receive consolation and strength. They also pray to her to receive healing from physical and spiritual injuries and deliverance from sinful thoughts. You can offer your prayers not only for yourself, but also for your family and close friends.

Help

The icon “Lord Almighty” can be presented as a gift as part of a wedding couple for newlyweds or as a gift to a loved one. Since this icon has very strong energy, it can guide the true path of salvation of the soul, if, of course, a person repents, and give miraculous healing to a sincere believer. Before asking God for mercy, you must read the Lord’s Prayer.

To the question of how the Icon of the Savior Almighty helps, we can answer that Jesus Christ is the chief physician of our souls and bodies, who knows about everything and our prayer should be directed to Him first and foremost. According to church rules, the icon of the Savior is placed at the head of the entire iconostasis.

Many different kinds of miracles and healings near this icon are described. However, there are those who consider icons to be superstition and deception, but experience shows quite the opposite; a truly believing person will not begin his day without prayer, as one speaks to God even across the blue sea, but without God not to the threshold.

Relation to icons

And in general, any Orthodox icon is not a picture at all, where you can admire the composition of the plot or the play of colors and admire the talents of the artist who created it.

The icon, first of all, is severity and tenderness. In contrast to any picture, it makes us think about eternal values ​​and the state of the soul, bringing us closer to God.

When we look at the icon and pray, it fills us with that all-encompassing grace that invisibly envelops us, calls us to salvation, awakens our conscience in us, and thereby opens up prayer.

Veneration of shrines

And if Orthodox Christians are accused of worshiping icons as idols, then this is an incorrect statement. They do not worship them, but honor them as a shrine. Believers understand perfectly well what icons are, and through them they offer honor and praise to the prototype of the Lord Almighty.

All earthly people are united by the desire to live without problems, to have health and well-being. And this is all on the basis of faith, hope and love, which are integral Christian virtues.

Life will definitely change for the better if you start praying intensely and thanking the Lord for everything - both for all the good and for the bad that happens in our lives. God help everyone!

Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The author of the icon, its description, meaning. Prayer to the icon "Savior Not Made by Hands"

In the Orthodox Church, one of the most famous and revered images is the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Its history goes back to the times of the New Testament, when the Savior performed his earthly ministry. The legend about the emergence of the first miraculous image is set out in a book called the Chetya Menaion. Here's what she says.

History of the icon "Savior Not Made by Hands"

The ancient ruler Avgar Ukhama V fell ill with leprosy. Realizing that only a miracle could save him, he sent his servant named Hannan to Jesus Christ with a letter in which he asked Him to come to him in the city of Edessa and heal him. Hannan was a skilled artist, so he was instructed, in case Christ did not want to come, to paint His portrait and bring it to the ruler.

The servant found Jesus surrounded, as usual, by a crowd of people. To get a better look at Him, Hannan climbed onto a high stone, settled there and began to draw. This did not hide from the all-seeing eye of the Lord. Knowing the artist's intentions, Jesus asked for water, washed His face, and wiped it with a cloth, on which His features were miraculously preserved. The Lord gave this miraculous portrait to Hannan and ordered it to be sent to Abgar, who sent it, adding that He Himself would not come, since He had to fulfill the mission entrusted to Him, but would send one of His disciples to him.

Healing of Avgar

When Avgar received the precious portrait, his body was cleared of leprosy, but traces of it still remained on his face. The ruler was delivered from them by the holy Apostle Thaddeus, who came to him at the command of the Lord.

The healed Abgar believed in Christ and received holy baptism. Many residents of the city were baptized along with him. He ordered the board with the image of the Savior to be attached to the board and placed in a niche of the city gate. This is how the first icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” appeared.

The significance of this event is very great. Christians acquired an image generated not by the imagination of a mortal man, but by the will of the Creator. However, years passed, and one of Abgar's descendants fell into idolatry. To save the precious image, the Bishop of Edessa ordered the niche in which it was located to be walled up. They did so, but before placing the last stone, they lit a lamp in front of it. The vanity of the world filled the minds of the townspeople, and the wonderful image was forgotten for many years.

Second acquisition of the image

The Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands spent many years in a niche. Only in 545, when the city was besieged by the Persians, a miracle happened. The bishop of the city had an apparition of the Most Holy Theotokos, who informed them that only the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, walled up above the gates of the city, would deliver them from their enemies. They urgently dismantled the masonry and found the Image Not Made by Hands, in front of which the lamp was still burning. On the clay board that covered the niche, the exact same image of the Savior miraculously appeared. When the townspeople made a religious procession with the acquired shrine, the Persians retreated. In this miraculous way, the city was delivered from the enemy by the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The description of this event was brought to us by Sacred Tradition. It is in the memory of everyone who is familiar with Christian literature.

After more than eighty years, Edessa became an Arab city. Now this territory belongs to Syria. However, the veneration of the holy image was not interrupted. The whole East knew that praying to the icon of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” works miracles. Historical documents indicate that already in the 8th century all Christians of the East celebrated holidays in honor of this holy image.

Transfer of the image to Constantinople

In the middle of the 10th century, pious Byzantine emperors bought the shrine from the ruler of the city of Edessa and solemnly transferred it to Constantinople, to the Pharos Church of the Mother of God.

There, for more than three hundred years, the icon “Savior Not Made by Hands” was located. The significance of this fact is that while previously it was in the hands of Muslims, it has now become the property of the Christian world.

Information about the further fate of the image is contradictory. According to one version, the icon was taken away by the crusaders after they captured Constantinople. However, the ship on which they tried to deliver her to Europe was caught in a storm and sank in the Sea of ​​Marmara. Another version indicates that it is kept in Genoa in the monastery of St. Bartholomew, where it was taken in the mid-14th century.

Different types of image

The image that appeared on the clay board covering the niche in which the image was walled up became the reason that the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands is now presented in two versions. There is an image of the Most Pure Face on the ubrus, it is called “Ubrus” (translated as a scarf), and without the ubrus it is called “Skull”. Both types of icons are equally revered by the Orthodox Church. It should be noted that Western iconography presented another type of this image. It's called Veronica's Plat. On it the Savior is depicted on a board, but wearing a crown of thorns.

The story will be incomplete without touching on the history of its appearance. This version of the image is associated with the Passion of Christ, or more precisely, with the episode of carrying the cross. According to the Western version, Saint Veronica, accompanying Jesus Christ on his way of the cross to Golgotha, wiped His face from drops of blood and sweat with a linen handkerchief. The most pure face of the Savior was imprinted on him, preserving the features inherent in Him at that moment. Therefore, in this version, Christ is depicted on the board, but wearing a crown of thorns.

Early lists of images in Rus'

The first copies of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands came to Rus' immediately after the establishment of Christianity. These were, apparently, Byzantine and Greek copies. Of the earliest images of this iconographic type that have reached us, we can name the Novgorod Savior Not Made by Hands. The author of the icon gave the face of Christ extraordinary depth and spirituality.

Features of the writing of early icons

A feature of the most ancient icons of a similar theme is a clear background on which the holy face is depicted. Missing are the folds of the scarf or the textured details of the clay board (and in some cases the brickwork) that covered the original image. All these details appear no earlier than the second half of the 13th century. Since the 14th-15th centuries, the Russian tradition has included depicting figures of angels holding the upper ends of a scarf.

Veneration of the image in Russia

In Rus', this image has always been one of the most revered. It was he who was depicted on the battle banners of the Russian army. Particular worship of him as a miraculous image began after the crash of the royal train near Kharkov in 1888. Emperor Alexander III, who was in it, miraculously escaped from imminent death. It is generally accepted that this happened due to the fact that he had a copy of the Savior Not Made by Hands with him.

After this miraculous deliverance from death, the highest church leadership established a special prayer service glorifying the miraculous icon. In everyday life, the holy image, through prayers addressed to it with faith and humility, brings people healing from illnesses and the granting of requested benefits.

The name of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin and the gate of the same name are directly related to this icon. Until 1917, it was located above the gate on its inner side. This was a list of miraculous icons delivered from Vyatka in 1647. Later she was placed in the Novospassky Monastery.

In the Christian tradition, the special significance of this image is due to the fact that it is considered as material proof of the truth of the Savior’s incarnation in the form of a man. In the era of iconoclasm, this was the most important argument in favor of supporters of icon veneration.

What icon of the Savior should be in the house

The icon of the Savior represents to old (mortal) man the image of God in his familiar system of material perception of the world around him. It reminds us that Jesus Christ, possessing a Divine nature, was once a real earthly man. At the same time, the believer, standing before the holy Image of the Creator and opening up in prayer, gets the opportunity to recognize the Divine spark in himself. Therefore, the theology of the icon of the Savior is a tool that helps a person find the way to his Creator and accept Him.
The icon of Jesus Christ is always recognizable; it differs from images of saints in that a cross is inscribed in the halo above the Savior’s head. This halo, crowning the Face of the Lord and symbolizing the Uncreated Light, indicates the heavenly origin of the Word - the earthly incarnation of the second hypostasis of God. And the obligatory cross is a symbol of victory over sin and death, the patience shown by the Savior during torment.
In the iconography of Jesus Christ, the diverse variety of His images is represented by six main types, divided into 20 subtypes. “Savior Not Made by Hands,” “Lord Almighty,” and “Lord on the Throne” are the most common canonical types of the image of the Savior, familiar to every Christian.
The Savior Not Made by Hands - this image is widespread and has long been loved in Rus'. Characteristic features of the Image of the “Savior Not Made by Hands” - a large Face of Jesus Christ, a woman giving cloth, background: knotted fabric with a border, neutral, tiles.
Tradition says about the origin of the icon that Jesus Christ Himself made an imprint by applying the canvas (ubrus) to his face. The Savior refused the invitation to personally come to Edessa to cure King Abgar of leprosy, but gave him such a miraculous image. Abgar, having been miraculously healed, kept the towel with reverence and, in order to save it during an attack by enemies, walled it up over the gates of the city. However, the image inexplicably passed through the stones, imprinted on their surface, which plunged the enemy into horror. This is how two types of icons arose: the background for the face is fabric - “Savior on the ubrus” or stone (tile) - “Savior on the chrepiya”.
History remembers another lifetime image of Jesus Christ; it was imprinted on a scarf given by Veronica when the Savior went to execution. The image of this merciful woman, who had compassion for Christ, can also often be seen on the icon.
John of Damascus in his “Accurate Statement of Faith” cites the words of someone who saw the authentic Image Not Made by Hands, transferred in the 14th century from Constantinople to Genoa. He testifies that the Image is wonderful and majestic, and everyone who looks at it feels the Divine Power and Glory and is in awe. And in the message of the proconsul of Palestine Leptulus to the Senate it is said that the sight of the Face of Christ is wonderfully noble and evokes both love and fear...
Savior Almighty with his blessing right hand (right hand) is the main image of Jesus Christ, it can be half-length or full-length and very rarely chest-length. The key meaning of such an icon: the Savior is an almighty provider and arbiter of destinies; and its Greek name Pankrator is translated as All-Powerful.
In the temple, the Lord Almighty is often placed in the form of a fresco or mosaic under the central dome, which significantly enhances the perception of the idea of ​​the image. When compiling a home iconostasis, they most often acquire this particular image of the Savior in the form of a separate icon or a composite one, called the “Twelfth Feasts”. The latter consists of a centerpiece depicting Pankrator, and stamps with the twelve most important events of the earthly journey of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.
The inspired Face of the Almighty (Pankrator) is painted in accordance with canonical dogmas approved in the 9th century. The fingers of His blessing hand are folded as a sign of power and teaching and signify the duality of the nature of Jesus Christ. Mandatory signs of the iconography of the Savior Almighty are a book or scroll, an abbreviated inscription of His name - IC XC, elements of clothing - a tunic and a himation.
The book is a sign of the power and saving teaching brought by Jesus Christ to the world; lines from the Gospel are given on its open pages. By the way, among the first, pre-iconal, images of the Savior, when early Christians feared accusations of idolatry, He was depicted as a fish, a lamb and a book.
Chiton is a spacious long tunic, drawn red, which symbolizes His earthly nature; According to legend, this shirt was made by the Mother of God herself. On the right shoulder of the tunic there is a sewn symbol of patrician dignity - the clav. The tunic of Jesus Christ was solidly woven from the very top; this was highly valued, which is why the executioners divided His vestments at the Cross.
The blue cape like a cloak (himatium), depicted on the icon, emphasizes the heavenly essence of the Savior with color.
The Savior on the Throne refers to another separate type of icon of the Almighty. This multi-component composition, imbued with subtle symbolism, like a theological treatise, tells about the Gospel prophecies of the Last Judgment. The Savior with a blessing hand is depicted in full growth sitting on a throne, personifying the highest power over the entire visible and invisible world. In this case, Christ is presented in the role of the Supreme Judge, the formidable Ruler of the world, the Logos - the creative God who came at the end of time.
The main feature of this image is a multi-layered background consisting of a red square, a blue oval and a red diamond in the background. The square symbolizes the earthly world, and the lion, angel, eagle and calf at its corners symbolize the four evangelists. The blue oval with drawn angels, located behind the square, is an image of the heavenly world, the red diamond behind it is a sign of the invisible world. This alternation of colors is not used by chance: it indicates the duality of the nature of the Savior, the close interconnectedness of the spiritual and the physical.
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Surround (name), Lord, with your heavenly power,
with all yours with the saints with the angels, with
archangels, with cherubim and seraphim and with
with all your heavenly strength, and protect me
Lord, by Your life-giving cross and the living
the cross of Jesus Christ the Son of the Lord, and
save me Lord and save me Lord from
all sorrow and illness, and help me
Lord in all my deeds and thoughts
life, and save and preserve me, Lord,
at every time and in every place from now and
up to a century. Amen. Amen. Amen.

From Masterweb

The veto imposed in the biblical Old Testament on the image of God and his hypostases was unshakable until the 8th century. However, the Seventh Ecumenical Council, held in 787, changed the dogmas of Christianity, including the veneration of icons. The interpretation of the ban itself has also changed. Now it was forbidden to invent images, since this was considered the creation of idols. At the same time, the church allowed the depiction of the miraculous faces of the Savior. Moreover, it became the most popular theme in iconography. But Jesus had to be portrayed according to the rules.

Standards for depicting Jesus Christ

The iconography of Jesus Christ was previously subject to certain rules. The main, characteristic features began to be used in icon painting, although there was more than one version of the canonical image of the Savior.

• The characteristic features of Jesus included a halo with a cross inscribed in it. He showed the incarnation of God the Father in God's son. But in the image of “Jesus Halki” only the cross was depicted.
• The first letters of the name of God were used on the icons. For example, if there is “IC XC” next to the face or halo, then even without decoding it becomes clear that Jesus is depicted.
• The face of Christ itself was depicted as elongated, with refined facial features and an expressive look, wearing the clothes of ordinary people (shirt, cape).
• The face in the center of the icon seems to be looking at you. However, there were also iconoclasts who still referred to the Old Testament and prohibited these images of the holy face. And icon worshipers believed that man has the right to contemplate his creator - God - in human form. And that it does not violate biblical restrictions.

In iconoclastic disputes, this issue became fundamentally important. After all, this influenced not only church art. The icon must depict the only image of God. It was he who had to be considered central. And the construction of the entire ladder of images of the structure of the universe depended on this image.

Among the first Christians, such vivid disputes were not recorded, since the images at that time were more iconic and symbolic. Realism was not required from them. Only the Christians themselves understood what was on the icon and what meaning it carried. Only they could read the entire secret intent of the image. One of these icons includes the Sinai image of Christ Pantocrator.

Description of the image of Christ Pantocrator

The icon was painted in the style of late antique encaustic. Juicy, quite realistic, masterly. These images of Christ date back to the 5th-6th centuries. The images stand out due to their unusual realism, compared to the standard style of writing. Some even showed a certain sensuality on their faces.

It is this iconographic type and these physiological features that will be traced until the twentieth century. If you look at several early images of Jesus (the image of the Savior in the composition “Transfiguration”, the image of Christ Coming on the clouds, the half-length image of Pantocrator), then one image can be traced between them, the icons are close to each other. And this could only mean that the face of Jesus was already fully formed. And the images were approved even before the start of iconoclastic disputes. During the period of controversy, all that remained was to provide the theological statement that was so lacking. Which is what was done.

Modern iconography of Christ

Nowadays, iconography is very diverse. And in order to highlight the basic types of images, we can take as an example the main image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. How did the first, miraculous icon appear? According to the legends of Christians, the Eastern tradition is true, which dates back to the sixth century.

Legend of the first icon of Jesus Christ

According to legend, the Edessa king Abharem V, suffering from leprosy, having heard about the miracles performed by Jesus, sent his messenger to the Savior with a request to heal him. And if Christ cannot appear, then at least send the face of the Savior, so that with the help of the face he can receive healing from his illness. But it was not easy to get through to Jesus. He was surrounded by a crowd. And the artist was unable to draw a portrait. Noticing this, Jesus washed his face and wiped it with a handkerchief. After which a face appeared on the scarf.

By the way, this is not the only version of the appearance of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The Western, medieval version of this tale arose around the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. And according to this version, the handkerchief was given to Jesus by the pious Veronica, who accompanied the Savior on the Way of the Cross. With this handkerchief Christ wiped blood and sweat from his face. And then the Image also appeared on the scarf.

Icons with a similar image of the Divine face were called “Plate of Veronica”. They depicted only the head and differed from the original version of the miraculous Mandylion by the crown of thorns that appeared on the head of Christ. Today this is the famous icon of Jesus Christ with the crown of thorns.

Image of Christ “Savior Wet Beard”

On the territory of Rus' there are also similar icons, for example, “Wet Beard of the Savior”. This face appeared in the 9th century. The oldest known image is the Novgorod Savior Not Made by Hands. In style, this design is closer to the classical type and corresponds to the Eastern legend about washing the face. The image is slightly different from the canonical one. In particular, here Jesus’ beard really seems to be moistened with water.

Savior Almighty

The most widespread image is known as the Pantocrator or Pantocrator. This is a chest-to-chest image of the Savior. There are also options for height, waist-length or on a throne. A scroll with scripture or the Gospel is depicted in the left hand, the fingers of the right hand are folded in a blessing gesture. The description of the icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator is mentioned in the 4th–6th centuries in Byzantium. The oldest such image dates back to the middle of the 6th century - this is Christ Pantocrator of the Sinai monastery.

Faith in God embodied in man is precisely the correct meaning of the great icon. She laid the foundation for the dogma of the Incarnation. And this dogma became key among Christians. And the image has survived to this day and is found quite often. On frescoes in churches, in houses, decorates the domes of churches.

There are several options for the Almighty Savior, for example, the Savior is in power. This type of icon provides a full-length depiction of Jesus in a sitting position. The background is an image of the earth, the spiritual world and the invisible world in the form of a red square, a blue oval and a red diamond, respectively. There are similar icons without a background, they are called the Savior on the Throne.

Spas Emmanuel

Savior Emmanuel is represented by a special type of iconography. Its main difference from the canonical one is the depiction of Christ not in adulthood, but in childhood. However, all the usual attributes, such as a halo and a cross above the head, are present in this type of icon of the Savior. Most often, this image is not single; an example of this is the image of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. This is intended to emphasize the relationship of Christ with the Father God.

Deesis

On these icons, Jesus Christ is depicted in the center, surrounded by various biblical characters - the Virgin Mary, John, the apostles or other saints. The Savior himself is depicted as a Pantocrator on the throne.

This type of icon was first mentioned in the seventh century. The meaning of the icon is that the Savior is the intercessor of the human race before God the Father, delivers people’s prayers, and promises to be a merciful protector of everyone who turns to him. The image helps the believer to become closer to the Almighty, to repent, to cleanse the soul, and to receive forgiveness for sins.

The Angelic Deesis is a traditional Russian icon that appeared in the 12th century. This is one of the varieties of Deesis type icons. Here Christ is depicted together with the archangels Gabriel and Michael.

Image of the “Present Queen”

Another type of iconography is “Presta Queen”. On it, Jesus is presented wearing the royal dalmatic, lore and kamilavka crown. In one hand he has a rod, in the other - the Gospel. This image conveys that God is connected to the church. And Christ is here in the role of priest.

It is not possible to examine all types of icons. We have described only the most basic ones. For example, you can find names of icons of Jesus Christ that do not correspond to standard canons at all. Here are some of them.

Saved the Good Silence

On it, Jesus is written in the form of an angel, that is, before taking on human form. The icon itself depicts a young man in light clothes, wings are visible behind his back, and a star-shaped halo of the Lord of Hosts above his head. His hands are empty. Since he has not yet descended to earth. And he has not yet become a mentor for humanity.

Spas the Great Bishop

Here we see the savior in the role of the priest. He wears magnificent clothes and a crown adorns his head. Here, like the Savior Almighty, he holds the Gospel and performs the blessing with his other hand.

Good Shepherd

In these icons, Christ is represented as a teacher and mentor. He is mainly depicted as an ordinary shepherd with his head bowed, carrying a lost sheep on his shoulders.

There are also icons of God Jesus Christ, the origin of which is taken from the Old Testament writings. For example, “Christ in the tomb.” This image is perhaps one of the most tragic in Christian iconography. Here the Savior is depicted dead, his body is on a bed next to the open coffin. Such images are purely symbolic, showing how meekly Christ accepted his fate.

There are also Catholic icons of Jesus Christ. They differ from the Orthodox in their free depiction of the Savior and Latin inscriptions.

Before any image of Christ, you can offer a prayer to the Savior, sincerely asking for forgiveness of sins and the mercy of the Lord.

Kievyan Street, 16 0016 Armenia, Yerevan +374 11 233 255

Icons of Christ, the incarnate God of the Word, occupy the main place both in an Orthodox church and in the home of a believer.

The canonical image of God in human form was approved in the 9th century: “... Well-bodied... with knitted eyebrows, beautiful eyes, with a long nose, brown hair, bowed, humble, beautiful in body color, with a dark beard, the color of wheat on a motherly appearance, with long fingers, good-willed, sweet in speech, extremely meek, silent, patient..."

Early Christians depicted Christ in the form of a lamb, in the form of a fish, and in the form of a good shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. These symbolic images were later banned. Currently, there are two types of images of the Savior: 1) in the form of the Almighty and Judge - the King of Kings; 2) in the form in which He was among people and performed His ministry (including in the form of a baby or youth). Sometimes you can also find images of Christ in the form of an angel.

But if the methods of depiction are so different, is it easy to recognize the Savior on the icons? Yes, it’s easy - thanks to one detail: the image of Christ has a cross-shaped halo.

What is a halo? This word is translated from Latin as “cloud”, “fog”, “halo”. The halo is a symbol of the uncreated Divine light, which the Savior showed to the disciples on Mount Tabor: “And He was transformed before them: and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white like light.”

The halo on the icons of the Savior also has an inscribed Cross. Inside it are three Greek letters representing God's words "I am who I am" spoken to Moses.

Through the image of a halo, we confess two natures in Christ - Divine and human. The icon painter paints the Face of Christ in the likeness of a human face, and this confesses the dogma that Christ is “a perfect man in humanity.” The halo conveys that Christ is “perfect God according to the Divinity.”

On icons, Christ is often depicted with a book - it can be either closed or open. The open book contains a quotation from the Gospel. The book can also be depicted in the form of a scroll, but the symbolic interpretation is always the same - the saving teaching with which Christ came into the world.

Let us now look at the clothes of Christ. Usually the God-man is depicted dressed in a red chiton (clothing in the form of a shirt) and a blue himation (cloak, cape).

The red color symbolizes the earthly and human, blue - the heavenly and Divine natures of the Savior.

Usually on the right shoulder of the chiton you can also see a sewn-on dark stripe - this is a clave, in the ancient world - a sign of patrician dignity. On icons, he is a symbol of the purity and perfection of the earthly nature of the Savior and a sign of His special messianic role.

Icons of the Savior belong to six main iconographic types:

1. Savior Not Made by Hands

2. Savior Almighty (Pantocrator)

3. Savior on the throne

4. Savior is in power

5. Savior Emmanuel

6. Spas Good Silence

Savior Not Made by Hands

The Savior Not Made by Hands has always been one of the most beloved images in Rus'. This is what was usually written on the banners of Russian troops. There are two types of images of the Image Not Made by Hands: the Savior on the ubrus and the Savior on the skull. On icons like "Spas on the ubrus" The face of Christ is depicted on a plate (towel), the upper ends of which are tied in knots. There is a border along the bottom edge. The face of Jesus Christ is the face of a middle-aged man with delicate and spiritual features, with a beard divided in two, with long hair curly at the ends and parted in the middle.

Appearance of an icon "Spas na chrepii" is explained by the following legend. As already mentioned, the king of Edessa, Abgar, converted to Christianity. The miraculous image was glued to a “non-rotting board” and placed above the city gates. Later, one of the kings of Edessa returned to paganism, and the image was walled up in a niche of the city wall, and after four centuries this place was completely forgotten. In 545, during the siege of the city by the Persians, the Bishop of Edessa was given a revelation about the location of the Icon Not Made by Hands. When the brickwork was dismantled, the residents saw not only a perfectly preserved icon, but also the imprint of a face on a clay board (tile, skull) that covered the image not made by hands.

On the icons of the “Savior on the Chrepiya” there is no image of a board, the background is smooth, and in some cases imitates the texture of tiles or simple masonry.

On Russian icons, the Savior Not Made by Hands is usually depicted calm, with open eyes. Catholics, on the contrary, paint the face of Christ as suffering, sometimes with his eyes closed, with a crown of thorns and traces of blood on his head.

Savior Almighty (Pantocrator)

Savior Almighty (Pantocrator) is another icon that can be seen in every Orthodox church." (Usually the fresco or mosaic "Pantocrator" is located in the central domed part of the church). In the icon, Christ appears before us dressed in a himation and tunic. The face of the Savior reflects the age of Christ during the period of preaching: He has straight, smooth hair hanging down to his shoulders, a small mustache and a short beard.His right hand blesses, His left supports the closed or open Gospel.

Savior on the throne

Savior on the throne - this icon has many similarities with the previous image (book, blessing hand), but the figure of Christ is always depicted sitting on the throne in full growth. The throne is a symbol of the Universe, the entire visible and invisible world, and in addition - a sign of the royal glory of the Savior.

Savior is in power

The Savior in Power is the central image in the iconostasis of an Orthodox church. This icon has much in common with “Pantocrator” and “Savior on the Throne”, but differs in more complex symbolism. Christ, wearing a tunic and himation, sitting on a throne with a book, is depicted against the background of a red square with elongated ends. The square is a symbol of the earth. At the four ends of the square you can find images of an angel (human), lion, calf and eagle. These are symbols of the evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, respectively), spreading the saving teaching to all corners of the world. A blue oval is written on top of the red square - the spiritual world. The blue oval depicts angels - the powers of heaven (hence the name). On top of the blue oval is a red rhombus (symbol of the invisible world).

This icon of the Savior is a real theological treatise in color. The iconography of the icon is based mainly on the Revelation of John the Theologian; the image shows Christ as He will appear at the end of time.

Spas Emmanuel

Savior Emmanuel is the image of Christ at the age of twelve. (The face of the Savior correlates with the Gospel text: “And when He was twelve years old, they also came, according to custom, to Jerusalem for the feast”). Emmanuel is translated as "God with us." In Isaiah, the eldest of the four Old Testament prophets of Israel, we read: “So the Lord Himself will give you a sign: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call his name Immanuel” (Is. 7.14). The Child-Christ is depicted in a tunic and himation and with a scroll in his hands.The image is relatively rare.

Spas Blagoye Silence

Savior the Good Silence is an even rarer icon of Christ. If “Savior Emmanuel” and “Savior Not Made by Hands” depict Christ as he was on earth, and “Savior in Power” - as he will come at the end of time, then “Savior Good Silence” is Christ before His coming to to people. And this is the only image of Christ where an eight-pointed star is written in the halo instead of a cross. The star is formed by two squares, one of which denotes the divinity of the Lord, the other marks the darkness of the incomprehensibility of the Divine. The Savior is depicted. in the angelic rank as a young man in a white dalmatic (robe) with wide sleeves. His hands are folded and pressed to His chest, His wings are lowered behind His back. The icon conveys the angelic image of the Son of God - Christ before the incarnation, the Angel of the Great Council.

Christ the Ancient of Days

(Ancient Denmi, Ancient of Days) - an image of Jesus Christ in the guise of a gray-haired old man. The clothes are traditional for icons of Christ; the halo is usually cross-shaped.

The epithet “Ancient of Days,” as well as the source of the iconography, go back to the Old Testament. In the vision of the prophet Daniel (Dan 7:9, 13), God is described as an old man. Understanding the biblical Ancient of Days as God the Father, the first Person of the Holy Trinity, leads to such formally prohibited iconographic schemes for depicting the Trinity as the Fatherland and the Co-Throne. The dogma of the indescribability of God the Father and the anthropomorphic images of the Deity repeatedly described in the Bible (Gen 3: 8; 32: 24-28; Ex 6: 1, 33: 23; Dan 7: 9, 13, etc.), lead to the conclusion that that the second Person of the Trinity, God the Son, appeared to visible people. In icon painting, a similar point of view is expressed in the inscription of the name of Jesus Christ above the image of the Ancient of Days.

The first images of Christ the Ancient of Days are known no later than the 6th century (Church of St. Constance in Rome). In Russian iconography, one can note the frescoes of the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa (Novgorod the Great, 12th century).

Good Shepherd

- one of the symbolic names of Christ, borrowed from the Old Testament (Isa LX, 11) and repeated by Christ in the New Testament:

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 But a hired hand, not a shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf plunders the sheep and scatters them.
13 But the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and neglects the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know Mine, and Mine know Me.
15 As the Father knows Me, so I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and these I must bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

(In X)
This naming served as a source for a special type of image of Christ in the form of a shepherd with a rod, surrounded by grazing sheep, or, according to the Gospel parable, with a lost sheep on his shoulders (Luke XV, 3-7). The first known images of the Good Shepherd date back to the 3rd century. In conditions of persecution of Christianity, the image expressed the idea of ​​special protection for the chosen ones and foreshadowed the coming Kingdom of God. The most famous is the mosaic image of the Good Shepherd in the mausoleum of Galla Placidia (Ravenna, Italy), dating back to the 440s. Sculptural compositions on the theme of the Good Shepherd are also often found. In later periods, images of the Good Shepherd are extremely rare.

Spas Priest (Christ the Priest)

- a symbolic image of Christ in the form of a priest. The biblical source of iconography is, apparently, Psalm 109: “Thou art a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek...” (Ps. 109:4). In the Kiev Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, in the apse above the Mountain Place there is a mosaic image of Christ the Priest in a round medallion. Christ is depicted as an almost beardless young man, with a haircut on His head. The fresco “Christ the Priest” was part of the cycle of paintings of the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa (in the niche under the lower window of the altar apse). Images of Christ the Priest cannot be traced later than the 13th century, then they are replaced by the iconographic type of the Savior the Great Bishop. The placement of the images in the altar apse indicates the direction of the images to the clergy. Obviously, one of the functions of the image is to serve as a reminder that the priest during the liturgy symbolizes (is a living icon) Christ.

Spas the Unsleeping Eye

- a special iconographic type, representing Christ in the form of a youth reclining on a bed with open eyes. Standing before him are the Mother of God and an Angel, and above the bed is a flying angel with instruments of the passions. A blooming garden is most often used as a background.

Saved the Sleepless Eye. Icon. Mid-16th century. Iconography is based on some Old Testament prophecies comparing Christ with a lion (Gen. XLIX, 8-9, Rev. V, 5, etc.). A number of fantastic properties were attributed to Leo (including sleeping with open eyes), symbolically interpreted as prototypes of the saving death and Resurrection of Christ.

In Byzantine art, iconography was used mainly in mural painting, in Rus' from the 14th century. equally often in monumental art and icon painting.

Spas Loza Istinnaya

- a rare iconographic type depicting Christ in accordance with the gospel words: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1), “I am the vine, you are the grapes” (John 15:5). In early versions (15th century), Christ is surrounded by a vine, in the branches of which the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist and the apostles are depicted (that is, the Gospel phrase is conveyed literally). In later (XVII-XVIII centuries) versions, the Eucharistic content is enhanced, on a vine growing in the hands or from the pierced rib of the Savior, a bunch of grapes, which Christ presses into the chalice. From a symbolic-allegorical composition it turns into a didactic and edifying one. In the Greek version, the icon is signed “Αμπελος”, which actually means “grapevine”.

Tsar by king (King of kings)

Epithet of the Savior, borrowed from the Apocalypse:

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he who sat on it was called Faithful and True, who judges righteously and makes war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. [He] had a name written, which no one knew except Himself.
13 [He was] clothed in a robe stained with blood. His name is: “The Word of God.”
14 And the armies of heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword, to smite the nations. He shepherds them with a rod of iron; He tramples the winepress of the wrath and wrath of God Almighty.
16 On His robe and on His thigh was written the name: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
(Rev. 19:11-17)
The icon of the King by the King illustrates the text of Revelation. The Savior is depicted in a red dalmatic, the crown on his head is formed by many tiaras. In His hand is a scepter - a sign of royal power, and a sword is directed from the left shoulder to the side ("out of the mouth"). “On the thigh” (on the lower part of the garment) is the inscription “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Bishop Great

- one of the symbolic names of Christ, revealing him in the image of the New Testament high priest sacrificing himself. It is formulated on the basis of Old Testament prophecy (Ps. CIX, 4), comments on which belong to the Apostle Paul (Heb. V, 6). It served as a source for a special type of image of Christ in the bishop's robe, which occurs both independently and in combination with another symbolic image representing Christ as the Heavenly King.