Icon: Jesus Christ Pantocrator

tempera, wood panel, chalk-and-gypsum ground; 29.2 x 23 x 1.2 cm.
Russia, 19th century.
This type of depiction presents Christ as the Ruler and Judge of the World (in Greek, “Pantokrator” means “Almighty,” “Lord of All”) and symbolizes the promise of salvation. Jesus Christ has his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing, while in his left hand he holds a closed Book. The arrangement of his fingers alludes to the Greek monogram for Christ: IC XC. Two fingers are joined: the thumb and the ring finger. As a result, the index finger and the bent middle finger resemble the letters IC. The thumb and ring finger, crossed diagonally and joined with the little finger, form XC. This arrangement is also interpreted as symbolizing the dual nature of Christ—divine and human—as well as the Holy Trinity. The Savior is depicted within a cross-shaped halo, on which are inscribed the Greek letters meaning “I Am Who I Am” —the name of God, which also pertains to Christ’s divine nature—and above it appears the abbreviation IC XC (IC—Jesus, XC—Christ).
The border is a solid red, framed by a white line and a brown band. On the back of the icon is an engraved groove for a single sponge (missing).