Archangel Michael icon (4)

$ 22.00

Orthodox icon of Archangel Michael, 12th cent (4). Byzantine Museum, Athens.

Michael Grand Taxiarch is depicted in a formal, frontal pose, with wings open, wearing a chiton and a himation. In his right hand he holds a sceptre, while in his left he has the transparent globe of the world, with a cross on the top and the gold initials Just in the centre together with a depiction of a lion. The image of the lion on the globe, the title given to the archangel and its association with the Angel Michael in the Last Judgement incline us to suppose that the scene has some eschatological context, that is that it refers to the Day of Judgement, an interpretation which the archangel in his capacity as psychopomp underscores.

From an iconographical point of view the Archangel can be connected with the figure of the Archangel Michael from the larger scene of the Last Judgement in the Chora Monastery in Constantinople (1315-1320). Here too the rare initials on the globe are repeated. The fact that the icon comes from Constantinople, its direct connection with the marvelous wall-paintings of the Chora Monastery and the high quality of the painting allow us to attribute this work to an important workshop based in Constantinople in the first half of the 14th century.

We find this name of our God in two Biblical Books. The first is in the Book of Daniel and it was a vision that Daniel's had: "I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire."A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened”.

The second is in the book of Revelation 1/A 12-18: "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lamp stands and among the lamp stands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

In the art of the orthodox iconography, sometimes Christ portrayed as an Elderly, as the “Ancient of the Days”, to symbolically show His existence in eternity and some times like a young “person” to demonstrate His incarnation. This tendency of hagiography appeared in the 6th century AD, especially in the Eastern Byzantine Empire.

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review Write a review

Next: Archangel Michael icon (5)

Back to Icons

Next: Archangel Michael icon (5)