Christ the Great Hierarch
Iconography is based on the texts of the Old and New Testaments. For example, in the Psalms (Ps. 110:4), it is stated: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the Epistles, the Apostle Paul interprets this prophecy (Heb. 5:5,10): “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You’… and was designated by God as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.” He further explains (Heb. 7:23) that Christ’s eternal priesthood replaced the mortal priesthood. Additionally, Paul notes (Heb. 8:1-2) that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven and serves in the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
In Ukrainian iconography, Christ the Great High Priest appears in the Supplicatory Row of the iconostasis (but never in the main row). This depiction emerged in the first half of the 17th century and gained significant popularity by the 18th century. It was also prevalent in domestic icons of the 19th and 20th centuries.
In such icons, Christ is depicted in the vestments of a bishop: the sakkos (upper garment of patriarchs), the omophorion (a wide band symbolizing Christ’s pastoral care), and the epigonation (a diamond-shaped ornament symbolizing the Word of God that girds the bishop). On His head, Christ wears a bishop’s mitre or a crown-kamilavkion. He blesses with His right hand and holds the Gospel (most often open) in His left. Occasionally, Christ is portrayed barefoot, seated on a heavenly throne. To His right is the Virgin Mary, sometimes crowned and holding a scepter, representing the Church (referencing Ps. 45:9), a theme known as “The Queen Stood Before You.” To His left stands John the Baptist, forming a Deesis composition, sometimes accompanied by angels.
At times, Christ is depicted with royal attributes, such as the orb or scepter, symbolizing the union of His priestly and royal titles, as repeatedly mentioned in the Bible: (Matt. 25:34) “Then the King will say to those on His right: Come, you who are blessed by My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” (John 19:14) “And Pilate said to the Jews: Behold your King!” and (John 19:19) “Pilate also wrote an inscription and placed it on the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (Heb. 7:2) “To whom Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.”
It is important to note that researchers often fail to distinguish between the icons of Christ Pantocrator, “The Great High Priest,” and “The King of Kings.” Despite the frequent overlap of attributes from both themes, the key indicator is that the Great High Priest is depicted in the omophorion, with the epigonation and mitre (exclusively priestly garments), while the King of Kings wears the loros of an emperor and a royal crown (i.e., as a king).
Mykhailo Skop