Christianity is one of the world religions that is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. His face was often recreated in sacred images, which contributed to the rooting of the image of the one God in artistic, and in particular in religious art. A typical example is the icon of the Lord Pantocrator, which is found in almost every church and home altar.

Thus, we're talking about about an image that unites all believers, about an image that has a consolidating meaning for everyone. That is why believers should deeply reflect on the meaning of the icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator and the position that this image occupies in religious practice.

Description of the meaning of the iconographic image

Jesus is sinless by nature, which is why he shouldered the entire burden of worldly sins. Jesus was convicted and sentenced to crucifixion, thus atoning for all the sins of the people. He is a representative of the Holy Trinity, namely the Son who descended to Earth and, through the action of the Holy Spirit, was born from a woman, thereby taking on the form of a man.

Mostly in the icons depicting Jesus Christ Pantocrator, glimpses of divine light are visible flowing from within him. Taking this aspect into account, we can say that the icons show not just the physical state, but also the spiritual essence, and therefore reveal to the viewer the divine nature of Jesus.

The icon of the Lord Pantocrator is, on the one hand, a unit of religious art, and on the other hand, a whole iconographic type of image of the Lord God. It should be understood that the icon of God the Father Almighty is non-canonical, since the Almighty is not generally depicted in Orthodoxy; only Jesus and symbolically the Holy Spirit are depicted.

Features of the icon of the Savior Pantocrator

Eat different variants images and many icon painters reflected on them, for example, Theophanes the Greek painted his own version of the icon of the Savior Pantocrator, copies of which are in many churches. One way or another, Jesus is always depicted on it in the image of a king and majestic. After all, He is the Supreme Judge and it is He who will further judge people by their actions and thoughts.

Therefore, the icon of the Lord Pantocrator emphasizes this function of the supreme ruler and judge who presides over everything

This icon differs from other sacred Christian images in the characteristic position of the hands, where in the right hand there is a scroll personifying the Gospel, and left hand folded into a blessing gesture. There may also be an image of the Lord Almighty with a book, which is the Gospel. Only there are often only two letters: Alpha and Omega. That is, we are talking about the first and final letters of the Greek alphabet. The presence of these letters arranged in this way symbolizes the entirety of the world. The gospel includes the whole world.

There is a type of icon where Jesus is depicted from the waist up or up to the shoulder, which are quite common. As history testifies, the very first icons of the Lord Pantocrator were painted around the fourth century, being one of the most recognizable icon painting styles of depicting the Almighty. By the way, the oldest icon that has survived to this day is located in the Sinai Monastery, where anyone can see the icon.

How does the icon of the Lord Pantocrator help?

As stated earlier, the icon of the Savior Pantocrator is of fundamental importance for the Orthodox. This image is prayed to for a variety of reasons. The icon of Jesus Pantocrator helps to get rid of various difficulties, gain stronger faith and consolation, but one more more than significant meaning should be noted.

In order to express their own joy, their own faith, people often pray precisely to the image of the Lord Almighty, thus expressing to him, let’s say, their own recognition.

These feelings are difficult to express in words and are often accessible only to believers who have understood how great the joy that comes from the Lord, how great the feat of Christ is and what enormous value the Orthodox faith has.

Some copies of this icon are considered miraculous, and there are attested facts. Prayers ask for a wide variety of things, but they also often turn to him in order to share their joy with the Lord.

Prayer to the icon of the Lord Pantocrator

The prayer to the icon reads as follows:

Master Christ God, who healed my passions with His passions and healed my ulcers with His wounds, grant me, who have sinned much to You, tears of tenderness; dissolve my body from the smell of Your Life-Giving Body, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow, with which the enemy gave me a drink; lift up my mind to You, which has fallen down, and lift me from the abyss of destruction: for I am not the imam of repentance, I am not the imam of tenderness, I am not the imam of consoling tears, leading children to their inheritance. Having darkened my mind in worldly passions, I cannot look to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears, even love for You. But, Master Lord Jesus Christ, treasure of the good, grant me complete repentance and a laborious heart to seek Thy, grant me Thy grace and renew in me the images of Thy image. Leave Thee, do not leave me; go forth to seek me, lead me to Thy pasture and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Thy Divine Sacraments, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.

Prayer to the icon of the Lord God

Prayers to the Mother of God

Prayer of the Mother of God 1st

Prayer to the Mother of God for illnesses and troubles

Descend from heaven, come and touch my mind and heart, open the sight of my soul, so that I may see You, my Lady, and Your Son, the Creator, Christ and my God, and I will understand what His will is and what I am deprived of. Hey, my Lady, strive for Thy help and pray to Thy Son to greet me with His grace, so that the bonds of His love chained at His feet will remain forever, even in wounds and illness, even if sick and weakened in body, but at His feet.

I appeal to You, Lord Jesus! You are my sweetness, life, health, joy greater than this world’s joy, the entire composition of my life. You are light more than any light. I see my body motionless from illness, I feel the relaxation of all my members, the pain in my bones. But, O my light, how the rays of Your light, falling on my wounds, delight me! Warmed by their warmth, I forget everything and at Your feet with my tears I wash my sins, I rise up and brighten.

This is one thing I ask of You, my Jesus: do not turn Your face away from me, let me forever at Your feet joyfully mourn my sins, for at the sight of You, Lord, repentance and tears are sweeter for me than the joys of the whole world.

O light, my joy, my sweetness, Jesus! Do not cast me away from Your feet, my Jesus, but through my prayer be with me always, so that living through You, I glorify You with the Father and the Spirit forever. Through the prayers of the Mother of God and all Your saints, hear me, O Lord. Amen.

Hope to all the ends of the earth, Most Pure Virgin, Lady Theotokos, our consolation! Do not disdain us sinners, for we trust in Your mercy: extinguish the sinful flame burning in us and water our parched hearts with repentance; Cleanse our minds from sinful thoughts, accept the prayers offered to You from the soul and heart with sighs. Be an intercessor for us to Your Son and God and turn away His anger with Your Mother’s prayers. Heal mental and physical ulcers, Lady Lady, quench the illnesses of souls and bodies, calm the storm of evil attacks of the enemy, take away the burden of our sins, and do not leave us to perish until the end, and comfort our broken hearts with sadness, let us glorify Thee until our last breath.

O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord of the Highest Powers, Queen of Heaven and Earth, our city and country, our all-powerful Intercessor! Accept this singing of praise and gratitude from us, Thy unworthy servants, and lift up our prayers to the Throne of God Thy Son, that He may be merciful to our untruths and add His grace to those who honor the all-honorable your name and with faith and love they worship Your miraculous image. We are not worthy of being pardoned by Him, unless You propitiate Him for us, the Lady, for everything is possible for You from Him. For this reason, we resort to You, as to our undoubted and speedy Intercessor: hear us praying to You, cover us with Your all-powerful protection and ask God Your Son as our shepherd for zeal and vigilance for souls, as a city ruler for wisdom and strength, for judges of truth and impartiality, as a mentor reason and humility, love and harmony for a spouse, obedience for children, patience for those who are offended, fear of God for those who are offended, complacency for those who grieve, abstinence for those who rejoice: for all of us is the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. To her, Most Holy Lady, have mercy on Your weak people; Gather those who are scattered, guide those who have gone astray onto the right path, support old age, educate young ones with chastity, raise infants, and look upon us all with the care of Your merciful intercession; raise us up from the depths of sin and enlighten the eyes of our hearts to the vision of salvation; be merciful to us here and there, in the land of earthly arrival and at the Last Judgment of Your Son; having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, our fathers and brethren eternal life Make life with the Angels and with all the saints. For you are, Lady, the Glory of the heavenly and the Hope of the earthly, You, according to God, are our Hope and Intercessor of all those who flow to You with faith. We therefore pray to You and to You, as the Almighty Helper, we commit ourselves and each other and our whole life, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

O zealous intercessor, kind-hearted Mother of the Lord, I come running to You, the accursed one and the most sinful man above all; Hear the voice of my prayer, and hear my cry and groaning. For my iniquities have exceeded my head, and I, like a ship in the abyss, am plunging into the sea of ​​my sins. But You, all-good and merciful Lady, do not despise me, desperate and perishing in sins; have mercy on me, who repent of my evil deeds, and turn my lost, cursed soul to the right path. On You, my Lady Theotokos, I place all my hope. Thou, Mother of God, preserve and keep me under Thy roof, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Blessed Lady, protector of the Christian race, refuge and salvation of those who flow to You! We know, truly we know how much we have sinned and been angry, O Merciful Lady, the Son of God born in the flesh of You. But the imam gave many images of those who angered His mercy before me: tax collectors, harlots and other sinners, to whom forgiveness of their sins was given, for the sake of repentance and confession. Thou, therefore, imagining the images of those who were pardoned by the eyes of my sinful soul, and looking at the great mercy of God that I have received, I dared, even a sinner, to resort with repentance to Thy mercy. O All-Merciful Lady! Give me a helping hand and ask Your Son and God, through Your mother’s prayers and Your most holy prayers, for forgiveness for my grave sin. I believe and confess that He Whom You gave birth to, Your Son is truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Judge of the living and the dead, reward each according to His deeds. I again believe and confess that You are the true Mother of God, the source of mercy, the consolation of those who mourn, the seeker of the lost, a strong and unceasing intercessor to God, fiercely loving the Christian race and a helper of repentance. Truly, there is no other help and protection for us except You, Most Merciful Lady, and no one, trusting in You, was ashamed when, and by You begging God, no one was quickly abandoned. For this sake and I pray to Your innumerable goodness: open the doors of Your mercy to me who have gone astray and fallen into the dark times of the depths, do not disdain the foul me, do not despise my sinful prayer, do not leave me the accursed, as an evil enemy seeks to kidnap me to destruction, but beg for me Your merciful Son and God, born of You, may He forgive my great sins and deliver me from my destruction, as if I, together with all who have received forgiveness, will sing and glorify the immeasurable mercy of God and Your unashamed intercession for me in this life and forever.

Orthodox icons and prayers

Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.

When an icon of Jesus Christ helps

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Everyone has icons of the Savior Jesus Christ, because they occupy a dominant place both in the temple and in every home of believers. This image is especially loved and revered among the Orthodox - after all, it is the image of the Lord. Images of the Savior are presented in a wide variety. Most of the icons depicting Christ are attributed miraculous powers. Icons of the Savior always radiate grace and peace. What is the significance of icons of Christ the Savior, how they can help a believer and how to pray in front of them correctly - you will learn from this article.

The meaning and symbolism of the images of Jesus Christ

The icon of the Lord Jesus Christ is a kind of mediator between the Divine world and the world of worldly people. Before the Face of the Lord they pray for the healing of serious illnesses, ask for help in any trouble, ask the Lord to show them the right path, to make an important decision, even one on which fate may depend. Thanks to the image of Jesus, any prayer will reach heaven much faster.

Today there are two types of images of Christ the Savior:

• Image of Jesus Pantocrator and Divine Judge.
• The image of Jesus in the form in which he performed his service among people.
• Christ is also depicted in the guise of a youth or baby (this image of the Lord is not classified as a separate type).

The image of Jesus always has a cross-shaped halo. The halo symbolizes the Divine light that Jesus showed to his disciples on Mount Tabor. Through the image of a halo, the two natures of the Lord are confessed - the Divine nature and the worldly, human nature.

Many icons of Jesus Christ, in his hands, depict a book: open or closed - the Holy Scriptures, the teaching of salvation with which the Lord came to our world.

• The icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator is an image that is certainly found in every church of Orthodox believers; as a rule, it is located in the central part of the temple. The face of the Lord reflects the period of Christ's preaching: his hair is smooth and straight falling on his shoulders, a small beard and mustache, with his right hand he blesses, and his left hand holds the Gospel.
• The icon of Jesus Christ in the crown of thorns is the suffering face of God, in the crown of thorns, from which traces of blood come. The crown of thorns represents the image of the suffering and sins of mankind, which the Lord, having submitted to his father, took upon himself.

How does the image of the Savior help?

Icons of the Savior are a symbol of the virgin-pure faith of all Christians. In difficult moments of life, bowing their knees before the Holy Icon, turning their prayers to the Lord, they ask him for protection, consolation, help in business, and healing from spiritual and physical illnesses. If you turn to the Almighty with the purest, deepest and most sincere faith that lives in the heart of a believer, then He will certainly hear you and extend a helping hand.

• People turn to the Almighty Savior for help in any difficulties: illnesses, sorrows and insoluble situations.
• It is customary to turn to the Savior Not Made by Hands in prayer for the healing of physical and mental ailments, deliverance from worries and sinful thoughts, for guidance on the path of truth.
• The icon of Jesus Christ helps and protects from any action dark force, from envious, cunning and evil people, and also gives peace in the home and family.

How to pray

Prayer to the Lord God Jesus Christ is the most important prayer that everyone should know. A prayer that is taught from childhood, an appeal to God:

“Our Father, who art in heaven!

Hallowed be Thy name,

may your kingdom come,

Thy will be done

as in heaven and on earth.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our debts,

just as we also leave our debtors;

and do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory

Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit forever.

This prayer is personal and intimate. This is a special conversation with the Lord. It is so pure and sublime that after reading it, everyone will certainly feel lighter, calmer and more comfortable.

Prayer to the Lord Almighty:

“Master Lord Jesus Christ my God, who for the sake of Your ineffable love for mankind was clothed in the flesh at the end of the ages by the Ever-Virgin Mary, I glorify Your saving providence for me, Your servant, Master; I will sing praises to You, because for the sake of the Father I have known You; I will bless You, for whose sake the Holy Spirit has come into the world; I bow to Your Most Pure Mother in the flesh, Who served such a terrible secret; I praise Your angelic faces, as the singers and servants of Your Majesty; I honor John the Baptist, who baptized You, O Lord; I honor the prophets who proclaimed You, I glorify Your holy apostles; I triumph and the martyrs, and I glorify Your priests; I worship Your saints, and I cherish all Your righteous ones. I bring such and such a many and ineffable face of the Divine into prayer to You, Thy all-generous God, Thy servant, and for this sake I ask forgiveness for my sin, grant me all of Thy for the sake of the saints, more than Thy holy bounties, for Thou art blessed forever, amen.”

A consecrated icon of the Lord God Jesus Christ must be present in every home in order to protect the house from the unclean and to bestow grace on the believers.

Icons of the Savior

Icons of Jesus Christ. Image of the Savior.

Every family of Christian believers must have an icon depicting our Lord Jesus Christ. Sincere prayers offered to God near such an icon will certainly be heard, and the faith of the person praying will be strengthened and the heart will find peace. Before the bright Face of the Lord, they pray for help in trouble, for the healing of serious illnesses, and ask to be shown the right path when choosing a decision on which someone’s fate depends.

Icons of the Son of God - we recognize Him.

When painting the image of Jesus Christ, masters are guided by certain canons and rules. So His clothing is always very simple and consists of a long shirt (tunic) and blue color capes like a cloak.

The halo above His head differs from the halos of saints in that a cross is inscribed in it. This is a symbol of the incarnation of God the Father in the Son of God. His face expresses meekness and humility, his hands are folded in prayer, or one hand extends to us in a blessing gesture. You can often see the Bible or the Holy Gospel in your hands.

Images of writing Jesus Christ.

The most common canonical images of the Son of God are found in icon painting. Thus, the type of icon called the Savior Pantocrator depicts Christ as the King of Heaven, the Judge of God's Judgment over all earthly judges.

In the icons of the Savior on the throne, the Savior in power, the Savior is depicted sitting on a throne, which symbolizes divine power over people. The icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands is a reflection only of the face of Jesus Christ, for according to ancient legend, the very first icon depicting the Son of God was not painted by human hands, but Jesus put his face to the canvas, on which the image miraculously appeared.

It was God's Blessing for the painting of icons depicting Christ. There are many more common canonical varieties of the Icon of the Lord, such as Christ in the Tomb, Deesis, Savior Emmanuel (depicts Christ in his youth).

Icon of Christ - may peace be in your home.

Icons of the Savior are a symbol of the faith of Christians. In our online store you can buy an icon of Christ self made with the image of Christ, made in accordance with all church canons. Such an icon will become your guide in communication with the Lord.

In difficult moments of life, bow your knees before the holy icon and turn your prayers to God, and He will hear you. Ask Him for protection and consolation with sincere and deep faith in your heart, and He will extend His hand to you.

St. Catherine's Monastery, Egypt)

Prayer “Our Father”

Our Father who art in heaven!

just as we forgive our debtors;

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

The Lord on the icon is written as the Light Giver in sacred radiance in the shape of an almond-shaped oval. His robes seem to be made of golden thread; they have no earthly bulk or heaviness. Behind all this is the spirituality of His body, and the truth: “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” And the bodies of those in hell are heavy and dark, being involved in sin.

The spiritual meaning of the Resurrection of Christ is deep, and it cannot be expressed unambiguously. That is why there are many iconographic variations of the theme that correspond to the church canon.

It arose from the living experience of the Church and became the fruit of the conciliar comprehension of the Resurrection. Looking at the icon, we understand that it is this plot that most clearly testifies to the victory of Jesus Christ over the darkness of sin and the abyss of despair.

Sunday hymn for reading the Gospel.

Having seen the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and we sing and glorify Thy holy resurrection: for Thou art our God, do we know no other to Thee, we call Thy name. Come, all faithful, let us worship the saint Christ's resurrection: Behold, through the Cross joy has come to the whole world. Always blessing the Lord, we sing of His resurrection: having endured crucifixion, destroy death by death.

O Most Sacred and Greatest Light of Christ, Who shone forth more than the sun throughout the whole world in Your Resurrection! In this bright and glorious and saving laziness of Holy Pascha, all the angels in heaven rejoice and every creature rejoices and rejoices on earth and every breath glorifies Thee, its Creator. Today the gates of heaven have opened, and I, having died, have been freed into hell by Your descent. Now everything is filled with light, the heavens are the earth and the underworld. May Your light come into our dark souls and hearts and may it enlighten our present night of sin, and may we also shine with the light of truth and purity in the bright days of Your Resurrection, like a new creation about You. And thus, enlightened by You, we will go forth in luminosity at the meeting of You, who comes to You from the tomb, like the Bridegroom. And as Thou didst rejoice on this bright day by Thy appearance of the holy virgins who came from the world to Thy grave in the morning, so now enlighten the deep night of our passions and dawn upon us the morning of passionlessness and purity, so that we may see Thee with our hearts, redder than the sun of our Bridegroom, and may we hear once again Your longed-for voice: Rejoice! And having thus tasted the Divine joys of the Holy Pascha while still here on earth, may we be partakers of Your eternal and great Pascha in heaven in the unevening days of Your Kingdom, where there will be unspeakable joy and those celebrating the unceasing voice and ineffable sweetness of those who behold Your ineffable kindness. For You are the True Light, enlightening and illuminating all things, Christ our God, and glory befits You forever and ever.

Any person striving for piety can read such a rule without special blessing. The icon depicts eleven saints, five at the bottom and three on the sides. In the center is the image of the Almighty in heavenly radiant radiance with those bowing before him Mother of God and Archangel Michael.

“Cry of Jesus Christ

about the murdered baby"

Often women decide to have an abortion not because they have a good life; they are forced to do so by life circumstances. But the price for the benefits of getting rid of the child is too high, it far exceeds these immediate benefits.

The pain of the irreparability of what they have done haunts such people. But repentance cleanses everything. Christ cries over innocent babies, taking on our pain and allowing us to live on with goodness and faith in his mercy.

The copies from this icon are associated with military events and were considered protective for the Russian military. For example, the Tutaevskaya icon, which is still kept in the city of Tutaev in the Yaroslavl region. The images of the All-Merciful Savior, kept in Kizhi, according to legend, defended the city during the invasion of Polish-Lithuanian troops.

They began to celebrate Candlemas in the 4th century. Elder Simeon holds the baby handed to him by the Mother of God with his hands wrapped in a cloak, since the shrine cannot be touched with bare palms.

The symbol of this holiday, displayed in the picture, is the union of the New Testament with the Old, their reconciliation and agreement. This event takes place next to the Jerusalem Temple, which is indicated in the background by stonework, as well as the temple throne with the ciborium. Between Mary and Simeon there is an image of a cross, speaking of the atoning sacrifice coming to the baby Jesus.

According to Christian teaching, God is one in Three Persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from God the Father, dwelling in the Son, and is sent into the world by the Son from the Father. He is not superior in dignity to the Father and the Son, but equal to Them.

To the Most Holy Trinity, the Consubstantial Power, all the good Wines that we will reward You for everything that You have rewarded us sinners and unworthy before, before you came into the world, for everything that You have rewarded us every day, and that You have prepared for all of us in the world to come !

It is fitting, then, for so much good deeds and generosity, to thank Thee not just in words, but more than in deeds, for keeping and fulfilling Thy commandments: but we, being aware of our passions and evil customs, have cast ourselves into countless sins and iniquities from our youth. For this reason, as unclean and defiled, do not just appear before Your Trisholy face without coldness, but below Your Most Holy Name, speak to us, even if You Yourself had deigned, for our joy, to proclaim that the pure and righteous are loving, and sinners who repent are merciful and kindly accept. Look down, O Divine Trinity, from the height of Your Holy Glory upon us, many sinners, and accept our good will, instead of good deeds; and give us the spirit of true repentance, so that, having hated every sin, in purity and truth, we may live until the end of our days, doing Your most holy will and glorifying Your sweetest and most magnificent name with pure thoughts and good deeds. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (Read three times, with sign of the cross and a bow from the waist).

Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Also in the prayer book among morning prayers the Trinity troparia and the Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity, read in the mornings, are set out.

Prayer of Saint Ioannikios

My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

Spas Good Silence

We see a beardless young man with angel wings behind his back, he is dressed in a light dalmatic, the belt and border of which are decorated with pearls. The position of the hands folded on the chest resembles the approach to the Communion cup. There is no scroll or book in my hands yet.

Christ’s halo in this image is star-shaped like that of God the Father Saphaoth, and not cross-shaped, and such an image of the halo is found only in this type of icon.

The star is formed from two crossed squares, symbolizing the divinity and incomprehensibility of the Creator. Icons of this type appeared in Russia only in the 15th century as a legacy of Byzantine iconography.

Christ sits on a throne in a tunic and himation with a book in his hands against the background of a red square with elongated ends, meaning a symbol of the earth. At the four ends of the square they usually depict an angel (man), an eagle, a lion and a calf, symbolizing the apostles John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, who spread the saving teaching throughout the world. There are no such images on this icon.

The red square depicts a blue oval, symbolizing the spiritual world. The powers of heaven are depicted in it, hence the name of the icon. And on top of this oval is a red diamond, symbolizing the invisible world. This image of the Savior became a real theological treatise in color on the subject of the Second Coming of Christ, Who will come to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:8).

In the hand of Your great mercy, O my God, I entrust my soul and body, my feelings and words, my advice and thoughts, my deeds and all my movements of body and soul. My entry and exit, my faith and life, the course and end of my life, the day and hour of my breathing, my repose, the repose of my soul and body. But You, O Most Merciful God, invincible with the sins of the whole world, kindly Lord, accept me, more than all sinners, in the hand of Your protection and deliver me from all evil, cleanse my many iniquities, grant correction to my evil and wretched life and from those to come. always delight me in the cruel falls of sin, and in no case when I anger Your love for mankind, with it cover my weakness from demons, passions and evil people. Forbid the enemy, visible and invisible, guiding me along the saved path, bring me to You, my refuge and the land of my desires. Grant me a Christian end, unashamed, peaceful, keep me from the airy spirits of malice, at Thy terrible judgment be merciful to Thy servant and number me at the right hand of Thy blessed sheep, and with them I may glorify Thee, my Creator, forever.

The Lord Pantocrator is the oldest and most important image in the iconography of Jesus Christ

Iconography of the icon “Lord Pantocrator”

The Lord Pantocrator is the oldest and most important image in the iconography of Jesus Christ. In this face is divine eternity, the greatness of the mystery of the incarnate Savior, the Lord’s love for man and inexpressible sorrow for his sins.

God as the Almighty is spoken of in Holy Scripture. One of the Old Testament elders addresses the Almighty as the omnipotent Lord: “The omnipotent and most high King, God the Almighty” (3 Mac. 6:2). The name "Almighty" indicates the power of God. The Greek synonym for this word, "Pantocrator", means "all-powerful, all-powerful." Thus, Pantocrator is the Almighty Lord, Who holds in His hands the entire Universe created by Him.

When was the first icon of Christ Pantocrator created? How was the Lord represented on it?

The exact answers to these questions are forever hidden from us in the distant past. Already around 180, Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, who personally knew the disciples of the apostles, wrote that “the carnal image of Jesus is unknown.” Apparently, for the people who were next to the Savior, His appearance was not remarkable, so that people would not be surprised by His unusual appearance, but, first of all, would listen to His teaching and the miracles He performed. At the same time, in the 4th century. Blessed Jerome reasoned that if Christ had not had “something heavenly” in his gaze and face, then the apostles would never have followed Him.

Among the earliest surviving monuments of sculpture, paintings of catacombs and underground temples, images of the Savior in the form of the Good Shepherd were popular - young man in simple shepherd's clothing, carrying a sheep on his shoulders. Such iconography was known to ancient art, but acquired new meaning due to the following parable of the Savior: “I am the Good Shepherd: Shepherd kind soul He gives his own for the sheep” (John 10:14).

Christ the Shepherd, surrounded by sheep, which symbolize the people who followed His teachings, the flock, is represented in mosaics of the 5th-6th centuries. Along with these images, images of Jesus Christ in the form of a lamb, a lamb, were also common, which indicated His meekness and submission. The catacombs also contain the earliest surviving examples of the image of Jesus Christ blessing him with the Gospel in his hands.

The iconography of Pantocrator that developed in Byzantium will become known in Rus' immediately after the adoption of Christianity. The Almighty Lord addresses the person praying: he blesses with his right hand, and in his left he holds a book, a symbol of the Good News. The meaning of the inscription on the book held by the Almighty increases over time. If earlier it was a book-symbol in a richly decorated frame, then in the 12th century. in Byzantine monuments the Savior holds a book open, with a quotation from the Gospel.

In the XII-XIV centuries. The epithet “Pantocrator” is found not only on half-length images of Christ, but also on icons where the Savior sits on a throne. They capture the Lord in Glory and at the same time testify to Him as the Judge who will decide human destinies on the last day. In Rus', the image of the Almighty sitting on the throne will be called “Savior on the Throne.” Such icons would be extremely common in the 16th-17th centuries. as the central image of the Deesis row of the iconostasis.

IN monumental painting the image of the Almighty invariably occupied the space of the central dome. In temple paintings of the 17th century. The Pantocrator is often represented with the Gospel revealed. The artists greatly increase the size of the book, use large font for the letters, but the text is almost impossible to read. It turned out that every Christian could guess what exact words the Lord was addressing him with.

Among distinctive features monuments of this time should be called a change blessing gesture of the Savior. In ancient monuments it was predominantly two-fingered (two straight fingers raised upward), symbolizing the two natures in the God-Man. In the second half of the 17th century. it is replaced by a more complex gesture in which the thumb and ring fingers are joined, the little finger is straightened, and the index and middle fingers are crossed. This type of finger formation was called nominative, since it visually reproduced the outlines of the first letters of the name of Jesus Christ - “IC XC”.

IN XVIII century The iconography of the Almighty consolidates an innovation that appeared under the influence of Western European art. In the hands of Christ, instead of the Gospel, they begin to depict a special symbol of power - an orb, sometimes together with a scepter. Historically, the orb, which was a decorated ball, was the insignia of the rulers of the Roman Empire, symbolizing peace and power over it.

The power crowned with a cross was one of the most important symbols the power of the Byzantine emperors, and at the end of the 16th century. it became part of the royal regalia of the Russian sovereigns. For those icons where the Lord is represented with an orb in his hand, the epithet “Almighty” literally takes on the meaning “Holder of the whole world.”

The image of Christ was also widespread in works of medieval decorative and applied art. Masters who worked in a variety of techniques used the same iconographic schemes as icon painters. Half-length and full-length images of the blessing Savior are present both on objects used in church use and on objects for personal use.

The icon of the Lord Pantocrator is one of the most important symbols among Orthodox believers. The famous image of Jesus Christ heads the iconostasis of every Orthodox church.

The icon “Lord Pantocrator” is an image of the Savior, symbolizing the King and Judge. This is one of the most important images in Orthodoxy, helping and supporting Christians in life. According to church traditions, for believers, the first and most important thing should be the icon of Our Lord. She alone can eclipse all others, since the Divine Power works miracles; it was the Lord who gave birth to life.

The meaning of the icon of Jesus Christ

Prayer to the Savior in front of the icon

“Oh, our Savior, Jesus Christ! God's Son! You are the intercessor of all humanity! You took upon yourself the sins of people, giving your earthly life for them! I pray to You, Lord, for the salvation of my soul, for the remission of my sins and for Your blessing! Grant to the soul
my love, warmth and light! Give me strength and don’t let me lose faith! Heal the bodies and souls of Christians from diseases and illnesses! Drive away the enemies from our homes. Grant families prosperity and happiness! Protect your children from troubles and failures. Give us joy and happiness, for our hearts are filled with love for You, Great Savior. Let us give You words of gratitude! Let us praise and glorify You, Heavenly King! You alone are our Savior and Intercessor! Let Your will be done! In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

You can turn to the Savior with any request. During his life, Christ saved many sick people from imminent death, resurrected many, and showed the rest how to live correctly, how to begin their spiritual path and how to finish it. All this is relevant to this day, because the Lord never changes, and neither do His covenants. We wish you peace in your soul, be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and

IN Orthodox world images of the Son of God have always been the most revered. It is believed that these icons have a special power that can help a person even in hopeless situations.

The famous image of “Savior Almighty” has always been one of the most important objects of religious worship. From time immemorial, Christians revered and were afraid of angering both God himself and his son, so they turned to them for help only in the most necessary cases. It is this icon that always reminds believers of the terrible judgment that awaits all who engage in unpalatable deeds and commit unforgivable sins.

History of the icon “Savior Almighty”

The idea of ​​​​creating the icon is attributed to the famous Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev. The image is part of the famous composition of the Deesis rank, which depicts many Saints, but it is Jesus Christ who occupies the central place on it. For the first time, “Savior Pantocrator” was seen back in the 4th century in one of the Byzantine churches, but there is an assumption that the shrine adorning the walls of a religious institution was only similar to miraculous image Son of God.

According to another version, the icon of the Savior appeared after the king of the state of Osroene was miraculously able to recover from a serious illness with the help of his faith in a higher power. One day, an unfortunate patient turned to Jesus Christ with a request to give him recovery in exchange for the royal residence. However, the Messiah refused to help him, but promised that after his resurrection he would definitely send him one of his disciples who could cure the king. After a while, the patient’s request was fulfilled, the Savior sent him one of his apostles, Thaddeus, and soon all the ruler’s torments quickly passed. After this miracle, he wanted to thank Jesus for his help. He found a painter and ordered him to paint the image of the Savior, but, unfortunately, nothing came of it the first time. Then the Son of God washed, dried himself with a handkerchief, on which there were imprints of his face, and handed it to the artist along with a letter to the king, in which he wrote his confession to him.

It is now believed that the image of the “Savior Almighty” has a special power that helps in healing mental and physical traumas, in getting rid of sins, and a prayer said in front of the icon can protect from troubles and even death.

The meaning of the icon “Savior Almighty”

There are several variations of the icon of the Savior. Most often, Jesus Christ is depicted on the throne in full height or waist-deep. In his left hand he may hold a sacred scroll or a Gospel, which may be closed or open. In the latter case, on the sheets you can see combinations of two letters from the Hebrew alphabet: alpha and omega, which symbolizes the beginning and the end. Right hand The Son of God shows his blessing with a gesture. Above his head is a halo in the form of a net. On Jesus Christ you can see blue and red clothes, which mean rebirth and human essence, as well as the torment of people on earth. We can say that the image of the “Almighty” conveys the essence of the earthly and heavenly life of all of us.

How does the icon of the Savior help?

The great image of Jesus Christ “Savior Almighty” reminds people of the imminent advance doomsday, which awaits a person after death. However, at the same time, he makes it clear that God is merciful to all people and can have mercy on each of us. In sorrows and difficult times of your life, you can pray before the image of the Savior, asking him to deliver you from torment, take you away from terrible sins or relieve mental and physical trauma. Many believers who sincerely believe in the power of the shrine ask for the preservation of marriage, harmony in life, mutual understanding between loved ones and colleagues, as well as protection from evil people and deceptions and intrigues on their part.

A striking example of the miraculous power of the icon is a case that one woman, whose name is now unknown, told journalists of a famous Orthodox publication. One day her son committed a terrible crime. He committed murder and, as befits a criminal, was tried. Shocked mother for a long time couldn't believe that she close person could have done such an act. Every day became unbearable for her, and in order to somehow alleviate the torment, she attended church every day. The priest, who noticed the regular guest, listened to her sad story and advised her to pray in front of the icon of the Almighty Savior. The priest explained this by saying that even prayer in front of the image of Jesus Christ would help her protect her son and alleviate the torment for committing a sin. Every day a woman in front of the shrine asked for the protection of her loved one. Several years passed, her son was released from prison ahead of schedule, but after that he himself became a respectable visitor to the church, where he made amends for the crime committed many years ago. In her story, the mother expressed the opinion that it was higher powers that helped her reason with her son and ease his suffering in captivity.

This is just one of the cases that shows the power and capabilities of the miraculous image. If your faith is strong and unshakable, then one day you will be able to turn to the Saints for help, who may hear your prayer requests and help you.

Days of celebration of the icon “Savior Almighty”

Every year the celebration of the image of the Savior takes place on September 8 (August 26, old style). On the same Orthodox Church venerates another important shrine - the icon of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholic believers on this day celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary and remember the miraculous events that happened many years ago and gave the world the Great Mother of God, who later became the Mother of the Great Son of God.

If you want to ask the Savior for the most secret things, to improve your life, to get rid of negative thoughts and mental suffering, then you should turn specifically to this image of Jesus Christ. Attend church on September 8 and share with the Savior everything that worries you. After all, it is on the days of celebration of miraculous icons that their powers increase, and therefore any of your requests will be fulfilled.

Where is the miraculous icon located?

In many Orthodox churches In our country you can see the miraculous image of Jesus Christ “Savior Almighty”. However, the most revered icon is located in Panteleimonovsky Blagovest, in the city of Zhukovsky, in the Moscow region.

You can also pray in front of the icon in the Church of the Annunciation Holy Mother of God, which is located in the village of Yasnye Zori, in the Belgorod region.

Residents and guests of Moscow can visit the Church of Saints Athanasius and Cyril, where they can also pray in front of the image of our Savior.

Prayer before the icon of Jesus Christ

You can pray in front of the icon both in a temple or church, and at home. The strength of your prayer requests will depend primarily on the sincerity of your words.

“Merciful and powerful Lord, I always turn to You with my troubles and anxieties. Hear me in difficult times, help me overcome life’s difficulties, deliver me from terrible and unforgivable sins. Only to You can I come for selfless help. Believe, Lord of Heaven, in the sincerity of my words, just as I believe in your existence and immeasurable power. Do not be lenient towards me, but protect me and my neighbors from terrible sins and deeds that are not pleasing to you. Protect me from evil people, traitors and gossips. We are all within Your sight, so take my enemies away from me. In anticipation of the terrible judgment, I believe in Your mercy and kindness. Amen!"

You can turn to an icon not only in moments of difficulty in your life. You can ask Jesus Christ for salvation from sins or pray for your loved ones.