Orthodox Icon of the Crucifixion

The Crucifixion COPYRIGHTED ART. Do not copy or deep-link to without prior permission from "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art.

From Matins (after Resurrection Gospel)
In that we have beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us bow down before the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. Thy Cross do we adore, O Christ, and thy holy Resurrection we praise and glorify: for thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee; we call upon thy Name. O come, all ye faithful, let us adore Christ's holy Resurrection. For lo, through the Cross is joy come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us sing his Resurrection: for in that He endured the Cross He hath destroyed Death by death.

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. In this icon, the ground is reddish on one side and bluish-green on the other. These colors coming together indicate the meeting of heaven and earth. To Jesus' right stands his Mother, the Theotokos; to his left is John the Beloved Apostle. Next to the Theotokos are the Myrrh-bearing Women; next to John is the Centurion who glorified Christ.

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. It is from the wall of St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church in Souderton, PA. This icon is one of a pair. The coordinating Resurrection icon is here. It is also available as a laminated Prayer Card, as part of our Children's Series.

Order # pha-20