Deesis

The Greek term Deesis means a supplicatory intercessory prayer to God. The imagery of this theme developed under the influence of early Christian liturgical texts. These include the thanksgiving eucharist prayer and supplication prayers, in which the Church resorts to the intercession of the Mother of God, John the Baptist, angels, apostles, martyrs, and saints. Iconography of Deisis is known from 6th or 7th century. It developed in several variants and spread throughout Eastern Christianity after the iconoclasm period, when the suppression of icon worship in Byzantium ceased. In addition to the Enthroned Christ Pantocrator, the Mother of God and John the Baptist, there are figures of the two Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Evangelist and John Chrysostom placed here, while Saints Nicholas and Zozym, Sergius and Savacius kneel at Christ's feet. In the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, such representations of Deesis were commonly referred to as the “siedmica” in reference to the seven (or “siedem”) days of the week. Each day serves to commemorate a saint or feast: Sunday is a remembrance of the Resurrection, Monday is dedicated to the Heavenly Powers, Tuesday is the day of John the Baptist, Wednesday is the day of the Mother of God, Thursday is the day of the Apostles and St John the Baptist, Friday of St Nicholas the Wonder Maker, Friday of the Crucifixion of Christ, and Saturday of All Saints.

Teresa Bagińska-Żurawska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3967