The Descent of the Holy Spirit is recounted in Acts 2; 1-4: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3)And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4 )And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The icon shows the twelve apostles and tongues of fire descending on their heads. The semi-circular composition emphasizes the fact that they were ‘all in one place’ and ‘could speak with other tongues’ is interpreted by theology as a symbolic reference to the unity of the church. In the lower part of the icon, is a symbolic figure of a king, ‘Kosmos’, meaning the world and the dark background implies the darkness of the world and the human condition. That darkness is banished by the teaching of the Apostles, represented by the scrolls he holds on a white a cloth.