0110 Pantocrator

Russian.
19th cent. 33.5×28.5×2 cms.

“Pantocrator” [Greek: “Ruler of All”] is the most popular subject in iconography.  It is a half-length image of Christ. His right hand is raised in benediction. An open Bible rests on his knee held by His left. The inscription can be varied. The most common, as here, is Matthew 25:34 “Come youwho are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creationof the world”. [N.I.V.]

The icon has a raised kovcheg and the two original shponki remain.