THE CRUCIFIXION

Gospel according to St. John:
"They then took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city to the place of the skull or, as it was called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him with two others, one on either side with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross; it ran: 'Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews'…"

The icon of the crucifixion in the Byzantine tradition shows Christ in victory rather than death. He is represented in peaceful repose, the body is elongated and at rest. His closed eyes evoke death and yet He is radiant on the cross in anticipation of the Resurrection. On His cross, Christ keeps all His majesty, as Saint John Chrysostom said: "I see Him crucified and I call him King."

The icon by the hand of Janusz Charczuk.
Egg tempera on wood, priming on textile, background 23 K gold leaf.
40.0 x 28.5 cm (15.75 x 11.25 in)
The Crucifixion is based on 13th century prototype.