Orthodox cross "Lord Pantocrator. Icon of the Mother of God "Unbreakable Wall" (blackening) p01212 Onyx

The iconography of the Almighty, in which the Lord is represented on the front side, is the most ancient. This is exactly how, with a blessing right hand and a book in his left hand, Jesus Christ is depicted on the first of the icons that have come down to us, kept on the holy Mount Sinai. Around the image of Christ Pantocrator there are four relief icons. These are images of saints whose names are associated with the history of the formation of Russian Orthodoxy.

Icon of the Saint Equal to the Apostles. Prince Vladimir's Red Sun is placed at the base of the cross. The holy prince is presented against the background of the temple, with a cross and a scroll in his hands, which symbolize the Christian teaching he brought to Rus'.

However, Christianity began to spread on Russian soil long before St. Vladimir. His grandmother, St., played an important role in this. equalap. Olga (+ 969). Her icon is placed on the left. St. Olga was baptized in Constantinople in 955, and thanks to her educational activities, by 988 there were Christian communities and churches not only in all major cities, but also in many smaller Russian settlements. This was the reason that the new faith spread peacefully on Russian soil, never coming into conflict with paganism.

The Russian saints were both the blessed prince Andrei Bogolyubsky (+1174) and the noble prince-passion-bearer Igor Chernigovsky (+1147), placed on the cross. The names of these princes are associated with the beginning of special veneration of the Most Holy Theotokos in Rus'. Holy book Andrei Bogolyubsky (right) built many churches in honor of the Mother of God and was the first to take Her icon on a military campaign. Holy book Igor Chernigovsky  (above), having taken monastic vows, became famous for his feat of prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God, which after his martyrdom was called “Igor’s”.

The entire space around the cross is occupied by one of the most ancient and revered shrines in Russia - the icon of the Mother of God “The Unbreakable Wall”. Its prototype was made using mosaic technique on the wall of the altar apse of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, built during the reign of St. Vladimir. This is a majestic image representing the Mother of God in the Oranta pose, with her hands raised in prayer. For many centuries the image did not have lists. During this time, Kyiv and its main temple suffered many troubles and destruction from various enemies. But the holy icon remained unharmed, protecting everyone who resorted to it for help. For its miraculous indestructibility, the icon received the name “The Indestructible Wall” and people loved it so much that they began to make from it  lists, many of which themselves became famous for working miracles. This icon is especially revered as a helper in difficult life situations, as a protector from enemies and a savior in mortal danger.