Top 10 most beautiful icons in the world

Believers perceive icons as an intermediary between the Divine and earthly worlds. For them, it is not the icon itself that is important, but what is depicted on it. Icons have not only spiritual value, they can be considered as works of fine art.

Icon painting originated more than 2 thousand years ago at the dawn of Christianity. During this time, a huge number of works were created. Among such a variety it is difficult to choose the most outstanding. Some of them are very popular among believers, others attract attention with their unusualness.

In this article, we will tell you about the most beautiful icons in the world.

10 Savior the Almighty

Savior Almighty – the canonical image of Christ. The central image is the Heavenly King and Judge Christ seated on a throne, in his left hand is the Gospel, which symbolizes the world. He is in God’s control.

The right hand is folded in a blessing gesture. Red clothing is identified not only with royalty and majesty, but also with the blood that Jesus shed.

The image is one of the most popular in icon painting. Similar icons are in every church. In churches, they are located at the Royal Gates or under the dome. You can pray to the Almighty about all the needs that arise in a person’s life.

There are many versions of this icon. Many artists wanted to capture Jesus, so it’s hard to say which version is the most beautiful.

9. Tree of Jesse

Iconographic plot on the theme of the genealogy of Christ also not deprived of the attention of icon painters. Artists all over the world tried to recreate the composition not only on canvas, but also in mosaic and fresco form.

The genealogy is depicted along the line of the Most Holy Theotokos. It symbolizes the continuity of the Old and New Testaments.

The genealogical tree grows from the chest of Jesse, all the ancestors of Christ are indicated on it. The icon is located on the island of Andros in the Greek monastery of St. Nicholas.

An interesting fact: despite its popularity all over the world, this composition was not widely used in Russian art. One of the famous ones is the “Tree” of 1568 (author Dionisy Grinkov).

8. Peter and Paul

We are talking about the icon of St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod. There are several other works dedicated to these saints that will not yield to this copy in beauty, but this is one of the early ones.

The icon was painted in the XNUMXth century. The author is unknown, but art critics suggest that it was created in Veliky Novgorod. The work still “lives” there in the city museum-reserve.

The icon is poorly preserved. The original painting has been completely lost, the most ancient layers date back to the XNUMXth century. The icon depicts the apostles Peter and Paul, these are two pillars of faith, two opposites. Priest and Priest. The saints are asked to strengthen faith and love, for spiritual guidance and enlightenment of the heart.

7. Saved Good Silence

This icon can hardly be called popular among believers, it is quite rare. It depicts Jesus in the angelic rank before the incarnation. A young man with wings in bright clothes, there is nothing in his hands, they are humbly folded crosswise.

In Russia, such a plot began to be used in the XNUMXth century. This icon is common among monastics. She exemplifies silence and “mental prayer.”

6. Ladder of Ioan Ladder

The composition was based on the plot of the Eastern Christian monastic composition “The Ladder”. Abbot John had a vision – a stairway to heaven. It is a symbol of spiritual ascent to God. 30 steps, and Christ is waiting at the top.

This figure is not accidental. The text of The Ladder mentions 30 sins that every monk will have to overcome before being saved. Some of them successfully overcome obstacles, others have already fallen into the abyss.

Angels and demons fly nearby. John himself is also depicted on the icon, he points to the monks on the stairs as the only way to salvation. Prayers to John of the Ladder are read in the name of strengthening faith in the Lord.

5. Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

One of the most revered icons in Russia is the image of the Mother of God. The Blessed Virgin with the Christ Child are facing each other. The work is in the monastery of the city of Tikhvin. Many pilgrims visit it to see the icon with their own eyes.

The earliest memories of her date back to 1383. Then the icon appeared in Novgorod. In fact, it was created much earlier, presumably in the XNUMXth century.

Several miracles and incidents are associated with it. The most significant is the liberation of the Tikhvin Monastery from the Swedes in 1613.

The Mother of God is asked for help in the birth of children. She is considered miraculous. At the moment, 17 cases of healing from infertility are known.

4. The resurrected savior frees the prisoners of Dachau

“Young” icon dedicated to the prisoners of the concentration camp. It was written in the second half of the twentieth century. Dachau is a terrible place, thousands of people were tortured here. Opponents of the Nazi regime, mentally ill people and others “polluting the Aryan race.”

In 1945, on Palm Sunday, the prisoners were liberated by the American army. There were many priests among the captives, and many sought salvation from God. A week later, Orthodox believers celebrated the feast of Easter.

A chapel was built here in 1994. Angela Heusen (a famous icon painter) wrote five works for her. The most impressive was the icon “The Resurrected Savior Frees the Prisoners of Dachau”. Christ brings the prisoners out through the gates that the angels open before them.

3. Transfiguration

Temple icon, located in the Transfiguration Cathedral (Yaroslavl region). The approximate date of creation is 1403. For a long time, Theophan the Greek was considered the author, but later it was proved that another person painted the icon. Unfortunately, nothing is known about him.

Based on the gospel story. In the center of the composition is the Savior. On the right and on the left are the prophets, below are the apostles, who fell on their faces.

At the icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), it is customary to pray for the strengthening of faith, the expulsion of evil from the heart, and the cleansing of sins.

2. All-Seeing Eye of God

Symbolic and allegorical composition from the Holy Scriptures. The icon depicts several circles, in one of them Christ, in the other elements of a human face, the Mother of God. More circles – the sky, angels …

It is difficult for an unprepared person to understand what it is. The image of the All-Seeing Eye means the eternal will of God, its Omniscience and Omniscience.

Before this image, you can pray for any need. Confession of sins, preparation for Communion, repentance – any prayer can be read in front of the icon.

1. Miraculous eruption of the prophet Jonah from the mouth of a whale

The icon was painted at the end of the XNUMXth century, is in a private collection. The plot enjoyed a certain popularity in the painting of temples and in book miniatures. It even became one of the most common in world art, but the Miraculous Eruption icon is a rarity.

In addition, it is made in a special way, a mixture of two techniques is noted here. It is assumed that two artists participated in its writing, or one professional who mastered painting and icon techniques.

The image is a story from the Bible. The prophet Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale. All this time he prayed frantically, asked the Lord for salvation. The Lord heeded his prayers, the whale swam to the shore and spat out the prophet.