The Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena (French: L'Icône du Christ et de l'Abbé Ménas) a Coptic painting which is now in the Louvre museum, in Paris. [1] The icon is an encaustic painting on wood and was brought from the Apollo monastery in Bawit , Egypt .

Aug 18, 2015 · Nowhere is this image of God drawing close to us more profoundly demonstrated than in this, the oldest known Coptic icon, written in the 8th century in Egypt and depicting Christ and Abba (Abbot) Mena (285-309 A.D.) currently hanging in the Louvre in Paris.

Through the historical moments that the icons depict, the gap between us and the Father was bridged by Jesus. By that logic, one can say that the iconostasis is a symbol of Jesus himself who is ‘the door’ and ‘the way’.

In this iconostasis, the congregation is greeted with messengers, who bring forward the good news of resurrection and victory of Christ. The iconostasis stands at the boundary of the nave and the sanctuary, and thus functions as an entry point into the “holy of holies.”

Icons are an integral part of the Coptic worship, inspiring and teaching the faithful the mysteries of the Christian Church through the intertwining of the mediums of color. Iconography is visual theology.

Aug 4, 2020 · Iconography of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Theotokos Virgin Mary, and the saints who have died in the faith, stands as a great heritage in the Coptic Orthodox Church. Iconography has existed within Christianity perhaps since apostolic times. The earliest evidence of icons is found in the catacombs.

Inside the nimbus around Christ’s head is another verse from the Bible, surmounted with a third verse in red ink. The icon was created by Ibrahim and Uhanna the Armenian in 1464 Coptic calendar (1748 AD) - An icon at Alexandria Library, Egypt.

Dec 13, 2013 · The oldest known Coptic icon was found in Bawit in Middle Egypt in 1900 by the French archaeologist Jean Clédat (1871 – 1943) who discovered the large Coptic Monastery of St. Apollo that once stood there.

The Icon of Christ feeding the multitudes • Christ is shown with His arms out, the humble boy giving him five loaves and two fish • The five thousands are represented standing behind Christ, watching in awe • Christ is dressed according to the first description

This 7th century Coptic icon eloquently presents Christ in a unique light: not as king, teacher, or even the beloved, but as our friend. Holding the book of the Gospels, Jesus rests His arm on the shoulder of Saint Mina, a Coptic ascetic and martyr of the third century, with the Savior's words in the ornamental border below.