The icon with the subject "Life of Jesus – Akathist Hymn – Second Coming" is a post-Byzantine icon and is exhibited in the Benaki Museum.
The icon with the theme "Life of Jesus – Akathist Hymn – Second Coming" is complex and includes various iconographic subjects. Specifically, within four concentric circles in the upper part of the icon are depicted: the Creation of the world, the creation of Adam and Eve, the sin of the first-formed and their expulsion from Paradise, scenes from the Old Testament, scenes from the life of the Theotokos and of Jesus, the Passion of Christ, the 24 oikoi (stanzas) of the Akathist Hymn, the last of which is depicted at the center, with the image of the Theotokos seated on a throne holding the Infant. In the lower part of the panel is depicted the Second Coming in a multi-figured composition. In the upper part of the icon, on a band which is held by two Angels, there is the following inscription:
"ΕΔΕΙ Χ(ριστ)Ε ΘΗΝΑΙ ΤΟ ΑΓΑΘΟΝ ΩΣ ΑΚΡΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΚ ΜΗ ΟΝΤΩΝ ΤΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΠΡΟΑΧΘΗΝΑΙ ΜΕΤΑ ΔΕ ΤΑΥΤΑ ΕΠΙ ΤΗΝ ΓΗΝ ΟΦΘΗΝΑΙ ΣΤ(αυ)ΡΟΝ ΟΝΤΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΝ ΥΠΟΜΕΙΝΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΙΗΜΕΡΟΝ/ΕΚ ΝΕΚΡΩΝ ΑΝΑΣΤΗΝΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΕΚΑΣΤΟΝ ΤΕ ΕΡΓΩΝ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΔΟΥΝΑΙ ΠΟΙΝΗΝ Η ΣΤΕΦΟΣ Θ(εο)Σ ΒΡΩΤΟΙΣΙ ΤΟΤΕ ΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΔΕΞΙΑΣ ΜΕΡΙΔΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΣΤΗΣΗ."
The icon with the theme "Life of Jesus – Akathist Hymn – Second Coming" is complex and includes various iconographic subjects. Specifically, within four concentric circles in the upper part of the icon are depicted: the Creation of the world, the creation of Adam and Eve, the sin of the first-formed and their expulsion from Paradise, scenes from the Old Testament, scenes from the life of the Theotokos and of Jesus, the Passion of Christ, the 24 oikoi (stanzas) of the Akathist Hymn, the last of which is depicted at the center, with the image of the Theotokos seated on a throne holding the Infant. In the lower part of the panel is depicted the Second Coming in a multi-figured composition. In the upper part of the icon, on a band which is held by two Angels, there is the following inscription:
"ΕΔΕΙ Χ(ριστ)Ε ΘΗΝΑΙ ΤΟ ΑΓΑΘΟΝ ΩΣ ΑΚΡΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΚ ΜΗ ΟΝΤΩΝ ΤΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΠΡΟΑΧΘΗΝΑΙ ΜΕΤΑ ΔΕ ΤΑΥΤΑ ΕΠΙ ΤΗΝ ΓΗΝ ΟΦΘΗΝΑΙ ΣΤ(αυ)ΡΟΝ ΟΝΤΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΝ ΥΠΟΜΕΙΝΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΙΗΜΕΡΟΝ/ΕΚ ΝΕΚΡΩΝ ΑΝΑΣΤΗΝΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΕΚΑΣΤΟΝ ΤΕ ΕΡΓΩΝ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΔΟΥΝΑΙ ΠΟΙΝΗΝ Η ΣΤΕΦΟΣ Θ(εο)Σ ΒΡΩΤΟΙΣΙ ΤΟΤΕ ΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΔΕΞΙΑΣ ΜΕΡΙΔΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΣΤΗΣΗ."
“IT WAS NECESSARY, O CHRIST, THAT THE GOOD BE ESTABLISHED AS SUPREME, AND THAT ALL THINGS BE BROUGHT FORTH FROM NON-BEING; AND AFTER THESE THINGS THAT YOU APPEAR UPON THE EARTH, TRULY TO ENDURE THE CROSS AND DEATH, AND ON THE THIRD DAY TO RISE FROM THE DEAD, AND TO RENDER TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS, EITHER PUNISHMENT OR A CROWN; O GOD, (GRANT) THAT MORTALS MAY THEN NOT BE DEPRIVED OF STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE.”
Below, in the middle, the signature:
"ΚΟΠΟΣ Κ(αι) ΣΠΟΥΔΗ ΘΕΟΔΟΡΟΥ ΠΟΥΛΑΚΗ ΕΚ ΚΥΔΩΝΙΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΕΡΙΦΗΜΟΥ ΝΗΣΟΥ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ."
“THE LABOR AND DILIGENCE OF THEODOROS POULAKIS FROM KYDONIA OF THE FAMOUS ISLAND OF CRETE.”
The dimensions of the work are 0.91 × 0.64, and it is a work of Theodoros Poulakis, late 17th century.
Source: Andreas Xyngopoulos, Catalogue of Icons of the Benaki Museum, Athens 1936. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
Below, in the middle, the signature:
"ΚΟΠΟΣ Κ(αι) ΣΠΟΥΔΗ ΘΕΟΔΟΡΟΥ ΠΟΥΛΑΚΗ ΕΚ ΚΥΔΩΝΙΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΕΡΙΦΗΜΟΥ ΝΗΣΟΥ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ."
“THE LABOR AND DILIGENCE OF THEODOROS POULAKIS FROM KYDONIA OF THE FAMOUS ISLAND OF CRETE.”
The dimensions of the work are 0.91 × 0.64, and it is a work of Theodoros Poulakis, late 17th century.
Source: Andreas Xyngopoulos, Catalogue of Icons of the Benaki Museum, Athens 1936. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.