No. 006Christianity

Jesus Christ

Ἰησοῦς Χριστός

Son of God, Saviour and Lord of Christians; teacher, healer and Pantokrator

Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish teacher of first-century Galilee. Christians worship him as the Son of God, the Christ, Saviour and Lord. The Gospels tell of his birth in Bethlehem, his healing of the sick, his meals with outcasts and his parables of lost sheep and wandering sons. He was crucified in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate and, his followers proclaim, rose on the third day.

Believers look to him as teacher, healer and judge of all, the Pantokrator, "ruler of all". He is honoured in Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and other churches, at Christmas and at Easter, which the Orthodox Church calls Pascha. The oldest surviving Pantocrator icon, at Sinai, dates to the 6th or 7th century.

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Jesus Christ

How to recognise Jesus Christ

  1. Cruciform haloA round halo with the arms of a cross inside it is reserved for Christ and the Trinity, and it tells him apart from a saint, who has a plain halo.
  2. LetteringIn Byzantine icons the cross arms carry the letters Ο Ω Ν, and IC XC stands beside the halo as an abbreviation of his name and title.
  3. Face and hairHe is shown as a bearded adult man with long brown hair parted in the centre and falling to the shoulders, his expression calm, grave and kind.
  4. Red tunic and blue mantleA red tunic (chiton) lies under a blue mantle (himation) draped over one shoulder, though Western art often varies these colours.
  5. Blessing handHis right hand is raised in blessing, with the fingers shaped to spell IC XC in Byzantine icons, while a simpler two-fingered blessing is common in the West.
  6. Gospel bookHis left hand holds the Gospel book, closed with a jewelled cover marked with a cross, or open in the Christ the Teacher variant.
  7. Other formsVariants include the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb, and, in Catholic devotion, the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy images.

Names and titles

  • The Good ShepherdFrom John 10:11 (KJV); Christ caring for his flock
  • Light of the WorldFrom John 8:12 (KJV); Christ as the light that guides out of darkness
  • Prince of PeaceFrom Isaiah 9:6 (KJV), read by Christians as foretelling Christ
  • Christ the TeacherIcon type of Christ holding the open Gospel book
  • Ruler of AllEnglish for Pantokrator, the Byzantine icon of Christ blessing

Feast days

  • Christmas (Nativity of the Lord)25 December, every year
  • Orthodox Christmas7 January, every year
  • Easter Sunday28 March 2027
  • Pascha2 May 2027

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Christ Pantocrator
  2. Wikipedia: Halo (religious iconography)
  3. Obitel Minsk: The Mystery of Vestments on the Icons of the Savior
  4. Russian Icon: Hand Gestures in Orthodox Icons; Aleteia: What Do Hand Gestures in Icons Mean?
  5. Heidelblog: The Reformed Confessions Reject Images of Jesus
  6. USCCB: 2027 Liturgical Calendar
  7. OrthodoxWiki: Easter
  8. News4JAX: Orthodox Christmas
  9. Aleteia: Looking for unique baby dolls that reflect your faith
  10. EasyTot: Sacred Heart Jesus plush doll
  11. Comics Beat: Kodansha Comics and Saint Young Men
  12. Gospel Herald: Jesus in today's fashion trend raises debates
  13. Second Council of Nicaea (787), definition on icons; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1159-1162, 2129-2132
  14. BibleGateway: John 10:11; John 8:12; Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

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