The Lord Orthodox Icon
Price range: $550 through $1600
The icon of the Lord Almighty is a canonical hand-painted image of Jesus Christ, created in the strict traditions of the Mstyora school of icon painting. It is painted with mineral tempera on a solid linden wood board using a natural gesso (levkas) base. A distinguishing feature of this icon is the rich coverage of the halo and the kovcheg (recess) with genuine 23-karat (960 standard) gold leaf, along with a golden assist (rays) on the Savior’s garments, symbolizing the uncreated Divine light.
Please note: Available to order in sizes 17×21 cm, 20×24 cm, 27×31 cm, 30×40 cm, as well as in custom iconostasis formats. Pricing and production times are negotiable and calculated individually based on the workload of our iconographers.
It is possible to paint an image in any size to order
Free shipping worldwide
The icon of the Lord Almighty (Pantocrator) is the foundation of Orthodox iconography and the semantic center of any church or home iconostasis. This image reveals Jesus Christ as the Heavenly King, the Ruler of the world’s destinies, and a merciful Judge. In His left hand, the Savior holds an open Gospel containing the words of eternal life, while the fingers of His right hand are folded in a gesture of blessing directed toward every worshiper.
This icon is painted by master iconographers in Mstyora—one of the oldest centers of Russian icon painting. The image is distinguished by its deep canonical fidelity, solemnity of color, and abundant use of gold leaf, which gives the shrine a special, unearthly radiance.
Theology and Symbolism of the Image
The iconography of the Lord Almighty has been strictly verified over centuries and is filled with the deepest symbolism, where every detail and color has its theological justification.
The garments of Christ traditionally consist of two elements:
- The Chiton (inner garment) is painted in a rich, deep dark red (purple) color. This color symbolizes the human nature of the Savior, as well as His blood shed for humanity. Over the chiton, a golden clavus is draped—a stripe signifying His royal, messianic mission.
- The Himation (outer cloak) is executed in a deep blue color, which points to the Divine, incomprehensible, and heavenly nature of Jesus. The combination of blue and red colors is a visual affirmation of the dogma of the unconfused and inseparable union of two natures in Christ—Divine and human.
Special attention is deserved by the Gospel in the Lord’s hand. On the presented icon, it is opened to the words: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…”. This is Christ’s call to all believers seeking comfort, spiritual peace, and protection from life’s storms.
Mstyora Technologies: From Linden Board to Gold Leaf
The hand-painted “Lord Almighty” icon is created according to ancient technology passed down through generations in the workshops of Mstyora. The use of exclusively natural materials ensures the longevity of the image, allowing it to become a true family heirloom.
Base and Levkas
A well-dried board made of solid linden wood is used as the base. Linden is traditionally used in Russian icon painting due to its softness and resistance to cracking. On the reverse side, oak splines are inset to prevent the timber from warping. Then, linen cloth (pavoloka) is glued to the front part, and levkas—a chalk ground mixed with animal glue—is applied. After a multi-day drying process, the levkas is sanded to a state of perfect smoothness, creating an absolute base for the painting.
Tempera and Gilding
The painting is carried out with mineral tempera—paint prepared manually from ground semi-precious stones and minerals mixed with an egg emulsion. These paints do not fade over time.
The background of the icon (within the zone of the kovcheg recess) and the Savior’s cruciform halo are covered with genuine 23-karat (960 standard) gold leaf. In addition, a golden assist is detailed on Christ’s garments—the finest gold rays symbolizing the presence of the uncreated Divine light. The letters in the halo (Omega, Omicron, Nu), meaning “The Existing One” (I AM), emphasize the pre-eternity of God.
What to Pray for Before the Icon of the Lord Almighty
The image of the Pantocrator is the Alpha and Omega of Orthodox prayer. Believers appeal to the Savior in any life situation:
- For the forgiveness of sins: Praying for repentance, cleansing of the soul, and the granting of strength to fight passions.
- For protection and patronage: Asking to protect the family from misfortunes, illnesses, evil intentions, and sudden death.
- For healing: The Savior, as the Great Physician of souls and bodies, provides help in the most severe ailments.
- For blessings on endeavors: Praying before the icon before beginning any important task, journey, or work.
In addition, the icon of the Lord Almighty is an indispensable participant in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, blessing the groom for the creation of a new “small Church”—a family.
Sizes and Custom Finishes
In our icon-painting workshop, you can order this image in various sizes tailored specifically to your needs:
- 17×21 cm and 20×24 cm: Compact formats, ideal for a small home iconostasis, a workspace, or as a personal gift.
- 27×31 cm: The classic analoy (lectern) size, traditionally used for wedding pairs.
- 30×40 cm and larger: Large formats for spacious rooms or home chapels.
- Iconostasis Sizes: Large-scale icons painted individually according to the customer’s architectural drawings for church iconostases.
Upon ordering, we offer additional framing options: the icon can be placed in a carved wooden kiot (icon case) with glass, which will protect the painting from dust and candle soot, or the background can be decorated with basma or chased patterns.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Iconographic Type | Savior Almighty (Pantocrator), half-length image |
| Base (Board) | Solid linden wood, oak splines, kovcheg (recess), linen pavoloka, chalk levkas |
| Paints | Natural mineral egg tempera |
| Gilding | Genuine 23-karat (960 standard) gold leaf (background, halo), gold assist on garments |
| Painting Style | Mstyora school, canonical painting |
| Available Sizes | 17×21 cm, 20×24 cm, 27×31 cm, 30×40 cm, and custom iconostasis formats |
| Finishing Options | Optional choice of a wooden kiot (icon case) with glass |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the difference between the Savior Almighty and the Savior Not-Made-By-Hands icons?
The Savior Not-Made-By-Hands icon depicts only the face of Christ on a cloth (uhrub) without shoulders or hands. On the icon of the Almighty, the Savior is depicted half-length (or full-length), sometimes seated on a throne, holding an open or closed Gospel in His hand and making a gesture of blessing.
2. What text is written in the Gospel on this icon?
On this specific image, the Gospel is open to the lines from Matthew: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…”. The text can be modified according to the individual request of the customer (for example, to “A new commandment I give unto you…”).
3. What is the golden assist on Christ’s garments?
Assist refers to the fine, ray-like strokes executed with shell gold over the painted folds of the vestments. In Orthodox iconography, assist symbolizes the uncreated Divine light permeating the material world.
4. How do I choose the correct icon size for a wedding?
Traditionally, the analoy size of 27×31 cm is chosen for a wedding pair. It is large enough to look proper when held during the Sacrament and later becomes the main shrine of the home iconostasis. The 20×24 cm size is also popular for more compact spaces.
5. Do the paints on a hand-painted icon fade over time?
No. We use traditional mineral tempera, consisting of natural pigments ground from minerals. Unlike modern synthetic paints, these pigments retain their original brightness and depth of color for centuries.
6. Is the 17×21 cm size suitable as a gift for a godchild?
Yes, the 17×21 cm size is an excellent choice for a personal spiritual gift to a godchild for a baptism, birthday, or starting school. The icon will not take up much space in a child’s room but will serve as a reliable spiritual shield.
7. What is a kovcheg on the board and why is it needed?
A kovcheg is a flat recess on the front surface of the icon board. The raised margins of the board are called “fields.” The kovcheg creates a symbolic “window” into the heavenly world, visually separating the space of the Divine image from our earthly space.
8. Can I hang the icon of the Lord Almighty on the wall?
Yes, you can. On the back of the icon board (or the kiot, if ordered additionally), a special hanger is provided for reliable mounting on a wall, traditionally in the eastern part of the room.
9. Is special care required for the gold leaf background?
The gold leaf is protected by a layer of varnish (olifa), so it does not tarnish or wear away. Care is limited to gently dusting it with a dry, soft artist’s brush. It is strictly forbidden to wipe the icon with damp cloths or chemical cleaning agents.
10. Can this icon be painted for a church iconostasis?
Yes, the masters of ‘Mstyora Icons’ have extensive experience in creating church images. We can paint the icon of the Savior Almighty in any large format (for example, 100×150 cm and larger), strictly observing the proportions and style of an existing or designed church iconostasis.
| Dimensions | 17x21cm (6.7×8.3 in) ,27x31cm (10.6×12.2 in) ,30x40cm (11.8×15.7 in) ,20x24cm (7.9×9.4 in) |
|---|---|
| Name | Jesus |
