01 Religious Icon, A Russian icon of the Deesis, with footnotes #29

Unknown iconographer

A Russian icon of the Deesis

Egg tempera on wood

36 x 30cm

Private collection

In the Deesis, the Pantocrator is in the center, to his right is the Mother of God in an attitude of intercession: she represents the Church, brings back to Christ the prayer of humanity and covers it with her maternal protection. After the Virgin, the Baptist has the place of honor next to Christ, to the left of his throne; archetype of men, it makes the link between the Old and the New Testament and summarizes the long expectation of the people of Israel; he is the first to designate Jesus as the Messiah, he baptizes him in the waters of the Jordan. John is the first martyr of Christ, which gives him a special power of intercession. Christ in the center with the Mother on his right and John the Baptist on his left, both in an attitude of supplication, constitute the iconographic module called Deesis or prayer. More on this icon

The Greek word Deesis can be translated as entreaty or request. Characteristic of the iconography of a Deesis is that a group of saints turn to the centrally depicted Christ in intercession. The purpose of this intercession is to implore mercy for all mankind. The saints stand on the left and right side next to Christ’s throne, with their heads bowed in the direction of Christ and usually one hand directed towards him.

The Deesis is the most important and therefore the most central part of an iconostasis in Orthodox Church. In churches, the Deësis usually consists of several separate panels. The order of closeness to Christ is almost always the same: the Mother of God and John the Forerunner (the Baptist) stand right next to the throne, followed by the archangels Michael and Gabriel and the apostles Peter and Paul. For the positions further away from Christ, there is an increasing degree of room for differences. Here there is a place for the other apostles, evangelists, early church fathers, warrior saints, martyrs and other, possibly local, church saints.

In the centre of this icon, Christ Almighty is seated on a throne. He is holding a gospel book in his left hand. To the left and right of Christ are the Mother of God and John the Forerunner, their heads bowed in intercession. Behind the throne are the archangels Michael and Gabriel, followed by the two saints who are considered to be the founders of the early Christian church: the apostles Peter and Paul. More on The Greek word Deesis

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