A066 

Icon: Resurrection of Christ

This is an icon of the Resurrection and Descent into Hades (Gr.: Anastasis; Russ.: Voskresenie Christovo). In this complex rendering, both the Western and traditional Eastern depictions of Easter are displayed.

On the upper central section: Christ stands triumphantly on an empty tomb, while Roman soldiers sleep nearby.

On the lower central section: Christ stands above the broken gates of Hades as he grabs the hand of Adam while Eve kneels at his feet.

In the background: Righteous men and women from the Old Testament wind upwards towards the Gates of Heaven. They are being freed from their captivity, stepping out of the Mouth of Hell.

On the top right: The Gates of Heaven are guarded by a six-winged Seraph. The righteous thief holding a cross enters into Heaven and meets Enoch and Elijah.

On the bottom right: Forty days after the Resurrection, Christ appears to the Apostles who are fishing in Lake Tiberias.

The upper border displays an Old Church Slavonic inscription: the Resurrection of Christ.