Fruit of Christ’s Passion

In the central part of the icon is the blossoming cross with the crucified Christ. Above the top cross-beam are eight angels holding the instruments of the Passion of Christ. On either side of the cross are the sun, the moon and four flowing winds pictured as human faces. The clouds separate the cross from Mountainous Jerusalem, with the Lord Sabaoth and the Holy Spirit portrayed as a pigeon. From the top edge of the cross descends a head with a key opening the doors. On either side are two cartouches with verses. In the right bottom corner is the yawn of hell with Satan chained to the bottom part of the cross. In the upper part is the vengeful hand beating the Death portrayed as a skeleton sitting astride a horse. Symmetrically to those compositions, to the left of the cross is the scene of the resurrection of the dead and a temple symbolizing the Christian Church. Between the temple pillars stand Evengelists Luke, Mark, Matthew and John, above them is a hand holding a crown over the church.