31. "Pantocrator Christ Almighty"

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“Pantocrator Christ Almighty
Χριστός Παντοκράτωρ”

In Orthodox churches, Christ (The Anointed One) Pantocrator (Almighty or Ruler of all) is the predominant icon of the church and the central icon of the Iconostasis of the Holy Screen. The Screen makes up a high wall of icons separating the church proper from the altar behind the screen.

Symbolism

On each side of Christ’s halo are the Greek letters IC and XC, the first and last letters of Jesus Christ in Greek (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός).

Christ's fingers are depicted in a blessing pose that represents the letters IC, X, and C, thereby making the Christogram ICXC (for "Jesus Christ").

Within the halo are the Greek letters for “I am who am” from Exodus 3:14, God’s response to Moses’ question: “Who shall I say is sending me?”

Within the halo is the cross. Visualize Christ on the cross as if you were standing beside John gazing up. The double lines in the cross represent the bottom of the horizontal beam and the right side of the vertical beam.

Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner!