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his icon was most likely the central icon of a Deisis tier of an iconostatsis from within a church. It depicts Christ enthroned as ruler of the universe. “I am the Alpha and the Omega says the Lord, Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is To Come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). Here Christ points to the opened Gospels revealing Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” To the left and right of the head of Christ and inscribed in gold is the abbreviated Old Church Slavonic title for this image, “Gospod Vsederzhitel” (The Lord Almighty). His halo is the distinctive cross-halo found only on images of Christ. The simple cross form symbolized the cross of the crucifixion. It is also inscribed with the Greek words HO ON, meaning “Who Is,” as found in Revelation 1:8 and given in Exodus 3:14 as a title of God. The style of this icon is classic late 15th century, a style which became exceedingly popular at the beginning of the 20th century.

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he title for this composition is derived from the Greek word for prayer, Deisis. At the center is Christ enthroned as “Lord Almighty.” Mary and John the Forerunner intercede on behalf of humanity, beseeching him for mercy. Christ delivers a blessing with his right hand and his left hand holds a open book of Gospels that begins “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden…” (Matthew 11:28). On the upper border above the head of each figure are their names in an abbreviated form. Beginning on the left, Meter Theotokos, the Greek title for Mary, meaning Mother of God. Next is Isus Khristos, the Greek abbreviation used to identify Christ. And lastly, Svyatuiy Ioann Predtecha, the Old Church Slavonic abbreviated name for “Holy John the Forerunner.” Stylistically this icon follows the canons of 16th century iconography. It is therefore a good example of the revival of traditional “old style” iconography that caught on at the beginning of the 20th century due to the improvements in restoration which allowed for the discovery of the brilliance of ancient icons that had been hidden under centuries of old varnish and over-painting.