Orthodox Icon of the Crucifixion

The Crucifixion Please do not deep-link to any of our icons.

Great Friday
Thy Cross do we adore O Christ,

Christ was crucified on Golgotha which means "place of the skull." The Jews believed Golgotha or Calvary to be the burial site of Adam. The Church accepts this liturgically. Here we have Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, triumphing over death by death. The skull is Adam's. The top bar reads "King of Glory" which is His true title. The footrest is slanted to indicate the choice of the two thieves. The one to Jesus' right (our left) glorified Christ and entered Paradise. The one to Jesus left mocked and perished. Whenever we view the Cross we are confronted with the same choice, to glorify Jesus Christ and live or despise Him and perish. To Jesus' right stands his Mother, the Theotokos; to his left is John the Beloved Apostle. Next to the Theotokos is Mary Magdalene; next to John is the Centurion who glorified Christ.

This icon is 15th century Russian of the Novgorod School. The original is at the Castle de Wijenburgh in Echteld, Netherlands.

Order # svp-09 or #svp-09s for small size.