Sunday November 24th. Christ the King

Ikon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator

In my Living room hangs a framed poster of this image from the Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia), Istanbul, an image that has followed me throughout my ministry from home to home since 1997.

It encapsulates the twin Orthodox expressions of who it is we celebrate today, he who is the embodiment of Wisdom and he who is Omnipotent (all powerful) and Ruler of all.

From earliest times the church has seen that the personification of Wisdom found in the Old Testament is one and the same as the Divine Logos (Word or Reason) of John’s  Gospel, which points us to the personal nature of God (Three Persons, one God) and also to the truth that whilst Jesus in history is a new incarnate being, the second person of the Trinity (who becomes incarnate) is eternal and already known before Christ’s birth.

Pantocrator Icons are a necessary part of the liturgical language of Orthodoxy, being found most commonly in a central dome of an Orthodox Church and are seemingly derived from the Imperial imagery of the Late Roman Empire.

These ikons represent Jesus Christ who is come in glory at the end of days, hence the use of so much gold for glory.  Either side of his head are the Greek letters IC XC representing Jesus Christ in the Greek (Ινσους Χριστος) and his hand takes up the style of one Blessing forming the characters ICXC – a style very close to the ancient hand gesture of a teacher.  In his right hand he holds the Gospel.

When celebrating Christ the King, it is useful for us to be aware that we are not talking about human Kingship, but Divine Authority, and that we are not speak of this world but of the Universal Kingdom (of which this world is a part).  In many ways the Pantocrator Ikon is a much more useful image of this Universal Kingship than many other attempts at depicting Christ as King.

May He whose Kingdom you pray for and are a citizen of by Holy Baptism, rule in your hearts with Love and Truth.

Blessings  Fr Clive