BYZANTINE ICON: “CHRIST PANTOCRATOR”
TECHNIQUE: egg tempera on plasterboard (1.8 cm thick multilayer)
DIMENSIONS: 35 cm X 25 cm
ICON READING GUIDE:
Christ Pantocrator (from the Greek “Pantocrator”, meaning “sovereign of all things”).
At the top of the icon, there are the Greek letters IC (on the left) and XC (on the right), they are monograms indicating “Iesus” and “Cristos” respectively.
The three letters placed on the halo (Ο Ω Ν) mean “He who is”.
The image is shown frontally with a half-bust, as is customary in Byzantine icons.
The Book of Life is held in the left hand, indicating the Revelation of God the Father in Christ his Son.
The right hand, in an act of blessing, has a double meaning: the three fingers joined together symbolize the Most Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), while the other two indicate the double nature (human and divine) of Christ.
Further signs of his dual nature are the red colour of his tunic (chiton) which highlights his divine kingship, while the blue of his cloak (himation) his humanity.
