Good Friday
Hand-painted icon of the Crucifixion
In the Byzantine icon of the Crucifixion Christ does not writhe in pain: his body bends gently, his head inclines, his eyes are closed in the sleep of death. It is the death of God made man, already lit by the victory of Easter.
How to read the icon
- At the centre the cross, with the inscription «The King of Glory» or «Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews» (INRI) and, in the Russian tradition, the slanted footrest.
- On the left the Mother of God with the other women; on the right Saint John the Evangelist, the beloved disciple, sometimes with the centurion.
- At the foot of the cross Golgotha, the «place of the skull»: in the black cave lies Adam's skull, washed by Christ's blood. The new Adam saves the first.
- In the background the walls of Jerusalem; above, sometimes, the darkening sun and moon and mourning angels.
For a church or a home
Besides the icon on a rectangular panel there is the shaped painted cross, well known to the Italian tradition of the 13th century: the crosses of Cimabue, Giunta Pisano and Coppo di Marcovaldo grew out of the Byzantine «Greek manner». A painted cross can be suspended above an altar or placed in a chapel. Like every icon by Concetta Basile, it is fully gilded with 23¾ karat gold, with inscriptions in Greek or Latin, and is commissioned with an offering proportionate to the time and materials of the work.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a skull under the cross?
It is Adam's skull: according to an ancient tradition the first man was buried on Golgotha. Christ's blood falling on his skull means that redemption reaches all humanity, from the very beginning.
How do I commission a feast icon?
In the configurator choose «Liturgical feast» and enter the name of the feast; the number of figures can be changed. In the conversation with Concetta Basile you agree together on composition, size and inscriptions.