As I mentioned in another article, all icons are icons of Christ - although to the untrained mind, they seem to depict everything under the sun, except Christ! However, they fall in 5 different categories: 1 – the obvious icons of Christ (3 canonical types). 2 – icons depicting the most significant events in the earthly life of Christ (these embody the major feasts of the Church year). 3 – icons of the Mother of Jesus, the Theotokos, the God-bearer (3 canonical types also). 4 – icons of the saints of the church, men and women who, like all of us, were inspired by faith, hope and love, and chose Chirst as their model, their teacher, and by living out his Word, became images of Him, icons of Him on earth. 5 – icons representing theological concepts which reveal the power of God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. I would like to take a little time here and just look at the canonical icons of Christ because they are simple enough albeit quite important and will serve as a good introduction to icons and iconography.

Canonical Icons of Christ : the ARCHEIROPOIETOS Christ Literally “not made by the hand of man”, this type of icon portrays the face of Christ. Tradition posits that this icon is the earliest and truest representation of Christ, the only image (or icon) of Him, which was “printed” by Christ image on a linen sheet (called MANDYLION) and sent to King Abgar, ruler of Edessa, who was extremely sick. When Abgar received it, he was healed by Jesus image.

This icon is the most simple since it shown only the face of Christ. Even though the iconographers’ styles may vary, icons of this type always show the divine face as severe and intense, yet full of compassion. The face shows Christ’s utter love and passion for humankind, a love full of pain and suffering, a love which led him to die for our sins and through that death bring redemption to the whole of Creation and and give it eternal life.

Canonical Icons of Christ : the PANTOCRATOR Christ Literally “the all-mighty, all powerful”, this type of icon depicts the epiphany of the transcendent God who took on the human form; in a sense, these icons represent the Incarnation, the Word made flesh.

Christ is represented in this type of icon, as the life-giver, the Lord of Life, the All-powerful King of the world; His right hand is raised and blesses while His left hand hold the Book of theLaw. He wears a purple robe, symbol of royalty (emperors and kings in antiquity also wore purple robes), expressing His power over Creation as well as His divinity. He also wears on top of the robe a blue mantel which symbolizes His humanity, bestowed upon Him at the Incarnation. The background on these icons is usually gold, symbol of the uncreated light of God which encompasses Christ the man, whereas the halo is also of gold, here symbolizing the divine light which emanates from Christ-God. In the halo, there is a cross and in the arms of the cross 3 Greek letters meaning “the one who is”, the sacred name of God.

Canonical Icons of Christ : the CHRIST IN MAJESTY Also called Christ Enthroned, surrounded by the powers. This type of icon integrates the type of the Pantocrator but puts Him in a cosmic environment, flanked the heavenly host, and portrays Christ as King of the Cosmos and of Time. The heavenly host is depicted beseeching Christ to grant mercy to sinners.

Unlike the Pantocrator, the icons of Christ in majesty depict Him clothed in light, artistically represented by etchings on a white or gold colored robe. His throne is placed in a red square which is in turn placed in a blue circle, symbolizing heaven and eternity; in these one can discern the faces and the wings of the seraphim. Behind the circle, there is another red square, in the angles of which are the symbols of the 4 evangelists (ox, lion, eagle and man). This rather complicated design centers around the figure of Christ who sits enthroned, majestic, kingly, as the giver of life and victor over death; He is the Christ of the Last Judgement who points with His right hand to the only way to follow, the Gospel. Mother Aline