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 its basic variant, the centrally placed figure of Christ is accompanied by the Mother of God to the right and John the Baptist to the left, the greatest intercessors of mankind, as in the exhibited icon. Similar images were popularised in the Russian Empire by Old Believers who did not accept the liturgical reform of Moscow Patriarch Nikon in mid-17th century. It is a cast bronze icon pendant with an image of Deesis in the basic variant. 

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