Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator) 550

"Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)" is a 6th-century icon housed at Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt. The icon, likely created by Orthodox monks, portrays Jesus Christ as the ruler of all, with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand holding a Gospel book. The icon's rigid, frontal pose and stylized features are characteristic of Byzantine art and reflect its emphasis on spiritual symbolism and theological doctrine. The gold background and halo surrounding Christ's head represent his divine glory, while the book symbolizes his teachings. This influential icon has served as a model for countless subsequent depictions of Christ in Eastern Orthodox art.