Orthodox icon | Easter | Bronze | 24787

Orthodox icon | Easter | Bronze | 24787.

Constructed from a combination of bronze, brass, and other yellow metals, this small piece captures a crucial scene from Christian theology: Jesus, standing atop the gates of the underworld, liberating Adam and Eve – and along with them, the righteous of the Old Testament – from the jaws of death. Part of a Tetraptychon icon.

Often referred to as the “descent into hell”, this terminology doesn’t quite align with the affirmations of Christian creeds. These creeds do not recognize a “descent into hell”, but rather portray Christ’s descent or journey into Hades, the underworld or the realm of the dead. The apocryphal Gospels, often referenced by icon painters, depict this journey into the depths with dramatic intensity.

The risen Christ, enshrouded in a powerful aureole and flanked by his disciples, John the Forerunner, and the prophets of the Old Covenant, shatters the gates of Hades. In a commanding gesture, he pulls Adam and Eve – symbolic of all humankind – from their tombs. Within the underworld itself, angels eternally torment death and the devil, the companions of the underworld.

To this day, the Orthodox community reenacts this solemn journey of Christ with a procession around the darkened church. Following this, the proclamation resonates: “Christ has risen from the dead. Truly, He has risen”.

Source: Orthodox icon | Easter | Bronze | 24787 © Ikonen Mautner. Typing errors, other errors or changes reserved.