Christ Pantokrator mosaic from Daphni, Greece, ca. 1080-1100

Dome of La Martorana, Palermo, Sicily depicting Christ Pantokrator surrounded by archangels, prophets and the Evangelists

For other uses, see Pantokrator (disambiguation).

Pantocrator or Pantokrator (from the Greek Παντοκράτωρ) is one of many titles ascribed to the divine in Western religion. When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek, Pantokrator was used to replace the Hebrew title El Shaddai. Early Christians ascribed this title to Jesus of Nazareth. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2024x2274, 517 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Christ Pantokrator ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2024x2274, 517 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Christ Pantokrator ... Daphne - From the painting by Deverial. ... Image File history File links Martorana_dome. ... Image File history File links Martorana_dome. ... The Baroque façade with the Romanesque campanile. ... Palermo (Palermo in Italian, Palermu, Palemmu, Paliermu or Paliemmu in Sicilian) is the principal city and administrative seat of the autonomous region of Sicily, Italy as well as the capital of the Province of Palermo. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian, Sicilian and Spanish, Σικελία in Greek) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 km² and 5 million inhabitants. ... Pantokrator can mean: Christ Pantokrator, a common symbol of Christianity Mount Pantokrator on Corfu, Greece Pantokrator Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece Pantokrator, swedish death metal band Category: ... At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form יהוה (YHVH), the name of God. ... El Shaddai (Hebrew: אל שדי) is one of the Judaic names of God. ...

Meaning

The most common translation is "Almighty" or "All-powerful." In this understanding, Pantokrator is a compound word formed from the Greek words for "all" and the noun "strength" (κρατος). This is often understood in terms of potential power; i.e., able to do anything, or omnipotentent.

Another translation is "Ruler of All" or "Sustainer of the World." In this understanding, Pantokrator is a compound word formed from the Greek for "all" and the verb meaning "To accomplish something" or "to sustain something" (κρατεω). This translation speaks more to God's actual power; i.e., God does everything (as opposed to God can do everything).

Since God's own and clear declaration of Himself to Moses, "I Am" we know all power resides in God. Since all power resides in God then nothing which happens in the human world is because of any other power but God and certain limited powers He specifically and individually gives to Satan. Since all power resides in God there is no limitation to His power man can conceive. In simplistic terms God spoke and the universe entire was created. God is not defined by time as that is one of the many limitations He places upon man, so therefore, the Word is eternity and the creation of eternity can only be by virute of love. Therefore the Pantokrator is eternal love.

The Pantokrator, largely a Byzantine or Eastern Orthodox theological issue is by that name largely unknown to Roman Catholicism and most Protestants. Frankly Pantokrator is roughly synonymous with the western concept of omnipotence. But omnipotence is power in stasis while the power of the Pantokrator is dynamic. Which is to say that God is dynamically moving in time through His creation in response to prayer and according to His Divine Will. The idea being that the eternal universe was not created as a fixed immutable object. There are clear examples in the Bible in which God is negotiated with, is convinced to change his mind and especially by prayer caused to change the universe. WBM

Uses in the New Testament

In quoting the Septuagint, Paul uses the word Pantokrator once (2 Cor. 6:18). Aside from that one occurance, the author of the Book of Revelation is the only New Testament author to use the word Pantokrator. The author of Revelation uses the word 9 times, and while the references to God and Christ in Revelation are at times interchangeable, Pantokrator appears to be reserved for God alone.

(Revelation 1:8, 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7, 16:14, 19:6, 19:15, and 21:22)

Use by Early Christians

The primary ascription of the title "Pantokrator" to Christ came through early iconography.

The icon of Christ Pantokrator is one of the most widely used religious images of Orthodox Christianity. Generally speaking, in Byzantine church art and architecture, an icon of Christ Pantokrator occupies the space in the central dome of the church, or simply on the ceiling, over the nave. The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ Pantocrator on the walls of the upper southern gallery. ... Christ the Redeemer (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek , eikon, image) is an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it, or by analogy, as in semiotics; in computers an icon is a symbol on the... Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ...

The icon may be shown full length, or half length, and depicts Christ, usually fully frontal with a somewhat stern aspect, with one hand raised in blessing and the other holding a closed book, representing the Gospels. An ikon where Christ has an open book is called "Christ the Teacher" and is not the Pantocrator Icon. He is often shown accompanied by his disciples and other major saints. The ikon is usually shown against a blue or gold background, symbolising divinity, and Christ's head is surrounded by a halo. On each side of the halo are Greek letters: IC and XC. Christ's fingers are depicted in a pose that represents the letters IC, X and C, thereby making the Christogram ICXC (for "Jesus Christ"). For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... A Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters which forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, and is traditionally used as a Christian symbol. ...