The original Holy Icon of Christ Pantocrator is one of the oldest surviving Byzantine-style icons, dating from the 500s AD. It is the earliest known surviving depiction of Jesus Christ as Pantocrator (Greek for “ruler of all”) and is widely regarded as one of the most important and recognizable works in the study of early Christianity. Our icon here is a recreation of the original, located at Saint Catherine’s monastery in the Sinai desert in Egypt. The original is believed to have been produced in the Roman capital of Constantinople and sent to Saint Catherine’s Monastery as a gift – the monastery enjoyed significant patronage from the imperial capital for many years. Because the icon was safely held in the dry desert of the Sinai, it avoided the iconoclasm of the 700s and 800s AD, thus making it one of the few pre-iconoclasm icons surviving to the modern era. Many experts in iconography agree that the icon was written to represent the dual nature of Christ, both God and man: His features on His right side (viewer’s left) represent the qualities of His human nature, while His left side (viewer’s right) represent His divinity.
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This icon is made of solid, natural Limewood that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece.
All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere.
Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.
From the moment you first hold your Holy Icon, you will see the exquisite details that bear truth to the meticulous preparation and creation of the image, as well as feel the depth and weight of the solid wood upon which it is portrayed. One of our larger icon dimensions (11.8" x 15.7"/30 x 40 cm) weighs more than 5 pounds!
Because we value quality even in the details, your Holy Icon will be shipped in luxury packaging and can be presented as a gift for a friend or family member.
We are proud to offer the highest quality products! However, if you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for an exchange or refund, free of charge! We offer free return shipping for all orders, so long as:
a) Item(s) are been purchased in the last 30 days.
b) Item(s) are returned with their original blue box and/or packaging.
c) Both the packaging and item(s) are in their original condition.