Ascension / Saints John, Joseph and Longinus

The small-sized double-sided icon holds a lot of content relating to the idea of Salvation. The obverse presents the scene of the Ascension. The risen Christ sits on the bow of the rainbow, symbolising God's covenant with man, and stretches out his hands in a gesture of episcopal blessing; He is shown as the high priest. His golden robes - a chiton with sticharion and himation - and the angels playing trumpets emphasise the glory of the Risen One. The lower part of the representation shows Mary and the apostles looking at Christ. They are accompanied by two angels who, looking at the moved disciples, point with their hands to Christ and seem to admonish the apostles: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, taken from you into heaven, will come just as you saw him ascending into heaven" (Acts 1:11). The reverse of the icon shows three saints, witnesses of the martyrdom of Christ. Saint John, who stood at the foot of the cross together with Mary and to whom Jesus said "Behold your mother" (Jn 19:27), is depicted on the reverse of the icon as a young man with no beard. The slightly older man with a beard, resting his head on his right hand, is St Joseph of Arimathea, who took care of Christ's burial. The soldier in a chainmail, holding a Lorraine cross and a spear, is St Longinus, who pierced Christ's side. They all accompanied Christ in the last moments of his earthly life, leading to the glory of the Resurrection and Ascension.