Symmetrical Judgement

This is the oldest icon in the world. CHRIST PANTOKRATOR (Christ the Judge of All) painted in encaustic (pigments dissolved in hot wax) on wood panel in about the year 550 CE. It is in its original location: the monastery of St. Catherine's on Mount Sinai, in Egypt. Countless reproductions of this image can be found all over the world. Many people have looked at it and felt varying reactions.

Christ holds the Book of Life in His left hand, and gives a blessing with His right hand. Buildings in the landscape behind Him may represent Jerusalem, or perhaps St. Catherine's itself. The cross in His halo is faint, but present. The Book of Life is depicted as a manuscript/codex -- not a scroll -- with a costly bejeweled cover on which a cross is prominent. The main focus is, of course, the face of Christ. The large eyes indicate wisdom and the all-seeing eternal watchfulness of God. The expression on His face is quite solemn. He is not smiling. His gaze is steady and direct. He is not speaking. He does not seem to be "inviting." But this is the Last Judgment. The time for hearing His words is past. At this point the "invitation" has either been accepted or rejected by the viewer.

Further indication of this being a Last Judgment image is seen in a closer examination of Christ's face. If you "dissect" this image, a couple of things become clear. Taking the side of Christ's face on the viewer's left (Christ's right) and duplicating it in a mirror image, the whole face appears thus:

The resulting face is absolutely symmetrical, completely identical on both sides. Reactions to this face are mild. This is not an angry face; this is not a "mean" face. The expression is solemn, perhaps even a bit sad. It is bright, and a curious image of the cross appears on the neck. On the whole the image can be considered benign, kind, reverential.




By taking the other half of the face -- Christ's left -- and duplicating it, we see a completely different image.




Reactions to this face are more unsettled. This is not a happy face. This face appears darker, both in color and in feeling. There appears to be anger here, or great sorrow. The cross in the halo is much more distinct on this side, and the illusion of a demonic face appears on the neck.

Seeing the two sides of the icon as individual works is really only possible in our modern day. The artist who created the icon could never have dreamed of the two halves as independent works. Or could he?

It is interesting to note that Christ's right side appears "good" and light. The left side is "angry" and reminds us more emphatically of the cross. In the Last Judgment "the sheep will be divided from the goats" - - the saved/blessed will be on Christ's right and welcomed into heaven. The damned will be on Christ's left and will be sent to the fires of hell.

The artist who made this icon was extremely aware of the what St. John's Book of Revelation had to say about the Last Judgment. He painted the two halves of the face of Christ in this icon as deliberate depictions of the aspects of the Last Judgment. A viewer would approach this icon with prayers, to be reminded of the coming Judgment and that his/her life should be lived in order that their name be listed in the Book of Life. The viewer would want their life to be in symmetry with Christ so that they would be sure to be on His "good side!"