Christ Pantocrator

The traditional image of the Pantocrator has specific iconographic features allowing for a new interpretation of its symbolic content. The canonic image of Jesus Christ represents Jesus Christ in a strictly frontal position, draped in the purple chiton with golden clavus and the blue-green hymation, backing up a closed Gospel book; the blessing hand is always positioned strictly before the breast. This composition dictates the nature of the vestment: the hymation is hanging down from the Savior’s left shoulder so that is leaves free the blessing hand, with only a small hanging wrinkle resting on the right open shoulder. This pattern is broken by the blessing hand drawn aside, wrapped in hymation up to the wrist.