Christ Pantocrator of Saint Catherine's Monastery is one of the oldest Byzantine religious icons, dating from the 6th century AD. [1] The earliest known surviving depiction of Jesus Christ as Pantocrator (literally ruler of all), it is regarded by historians and scholars among the most important and recognizable works in the study of Byzantine art as well as Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christianity. [2]
For a time, the icon was thought to have been dated from the thirteenth century, since it had been almost completely painted over at that time. It was concluded in 1962 that it is from the mid-sixth century, although the exact date of production is still unknown. [3] When Saint Catherine's Monastery was founded by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, late in his reign, between 548 and 565, [4] it enjoyed imperial patronage and donations from Justinian and his court, with the Christ Pantocrator icon having been one of the many possible imperial gifts. [5] Because of this, it is generally believed to have been produced in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. [6]
Many agree that the icon represents the dual nature of Christ, illustrating traits of both man and God, [7] perhaps influenced by the aftermath of the ecumenical councils of the previous century at Ephesus and Chalcedon. [8] Christ's features on his right side (the viewer's left) are supposed to represent the qualities of his human nature, while his left side (the viewer's right) represents his divinity. [9] His right hand is shown opening outward, signifying his gift of blessing, while the left hand and arm are clutching a thick Gospel book. [10]
Some scholars have suggested the icon at Sinai could have been a possible representation of the Kamouliana icon of Christ [11] or of the famous icon of Christ of the Chalke Gate, [12] an image which was destroyed twice during the first and second waves of Byzantine Iconoclasm —first in 726, and again in 814—and thus its connection with the Christ Pantocrator is difficult to confirm. [13]
With a height of 84 cm, width of 45.5 cm, and a thickness of 1.2 cm, the icon was originally taller and wider before its top and sides were cut. [14] Otherwise, there is only one spot with major damage, a large portion of Christ's hair on his left side, including his left ear and shoulder. [14] The original encaustic surface has continually been preserved in excellent condition overall. [14]
As with many of the early icons from Sinai, the Christ Pantocrator was created by using encaustic—a medium using hot wax paint—that was rare in the Byzantine world after the iconoclastic controversies of the eighth and ninth centuries. [15] The monastery at Sinai is the only place where a substantial number of encaustic icons have been preserved, some dating from as early as the sixth century. [16] During the period of Byzantine Iconoclasm, the production of Orthodox icons continued at Sinai, as they were being destroyed in Constantinople. [17]
The Muslim Arabs quickly took control of the southern Levant, including Egypt and Sinai, cutting the monastery's ties with Constantinople in 640 AD. [18] Thus by the era of iconoclasm initiated by Emperor Leo III in 726, the Monastery of Saint Catherine had already been protected under Muslim rule for nearly a century and was insulated from the destruction. [19] Furthermore, the location of St. Catherine's in the rocky desert of Sinai, far away from any major trade or military route, kept the religious art housed within the monastery away from raiders as well as conquering armies. [20] Today, the monastery houses more than 2,000 icons, dating from the sixth century to modern times. [21]
Saint Catherine's Monastery, officially the Sacred Autonomous Royal Monastery of Saint Catherine of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai, is a Christian monastery located in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Located at the foot of Mount Sinai, it was built between 548 and 565, and is the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery.
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In Christian iconography, Christ Pantocrator is a specific depiction of Christ. Pantocrator or Pantokrator, literally ruler of all, but usually translated as "Almighty" or "all-powerful", is derived from one of many names of God in Judaism.
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The Church of Sinai is a Greek Orthodox autonomous church whose territory consists of St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt, along with several dependencies. There is a dispute as to whether the church is fully autocephalous or merely autonomous. The church is headed by the Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu, who is traditionally consecrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and also serves as abbot for the monastery. The current hierarch is Archbishop Damian.
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Ieremias Palladas, also known as PouladasIeremia Pallada. He was a Greek Renaissance painter. He was a clergyman, painter, and educator. He was affiliated with Saint Catherine's Monastery in Mount Sinai, Egypt. He is one of the most notable Greek painters of the 17th century. His family consisted of clergy and painters. His nephew was Patriarch of Alexandria Gerasimos Palladas. His work was influenced by Nikolaos Tzafouris and Angelos Akotantos. Georgios Klontzas and Emmanuel Lambardos were active in Crete around the same period. Palladas influenced the works of Theocharis Silvestros, Iakovos Moskos, Ioannis Kornaros and Philotheos Skoufos. According to the Institute of Neohellenic Research, twenty-four of his works survived. His specialty was painting crosses for the iconostasis or templo. Most of his works are in Egypt.
Christ Pantocrator is a tempera painting created by Ieremias Palladas. Ieremias was associated with Saint Catherine's sacred monastery in Egypt also known as Mount Sinai. He was a Sinaitic monk, painter, and teacher. His nephew Gerasimos Palladas became the Patriarch of Alexandria. There was a dependency of Saint Catherine's Monastery which was in Mount Sinai, Egypt on the island of Crete which was called Saint Catherine's Monastery of Heraklion. The site in Egypt was believed by Christians to be the site where Moses saw the burning bush. The Patriarch of Jerusalem Nectarius wrote about the painter in his archives because Ieremias was one of the most influential figures of his time.
John Tohabi was a Georgian ordained priest, hieromonachos and icon painter whose works were donated in the High Middle Ages to the Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai and its monastic community, originally all displayed together for the decoration of the entire church.