Christ Pantocrator

The icon from Kopyłów (Hrubieszów district) represents Christ as the Pantocrator (Greek: Almighty), emphasising his royal and judicial dignity in a unique way. Christ is shown frontally, his head framed by a halo of a cross. He is dressed in a scarlet chiton and a golden-brown himation. He sits on a magnificent throne, decorated with elements of Western provenance: the seat is supported by consoles in the form of acanthus leaves, and the backrest structure is built of architectural elements and ornamental motifs and is crowned with a lambrequin. The throne is held by two angels, each of them with one wing raised upwards – this gesture symbolises joy. Christ is raising his right hand in a gesture of blessing, while his left hand holds the book, opened on the text from the Gospel of Matthew: ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.’ His feet rest on a footrest, symbolising the ground over which he rules. Behind the throne are two angels holding blue spheres inscribed with the monogram of the Christ.

The icon is of warm colours harmonised with blue and green accents. On the edges of the robes, here and there, on a white background, are thicker patches of yellow giving the impression of gold shimmering in the light. The background is filled with a carved floral ornament covered with silver and with gold varnish. The whole picture gives the impression of splendour and majesty, appropriate to the royal power of Christ.