The central panel of this icon shows the Deesis. The Greek word ‘Deesis’ means prayer or ‘entreaty’ and is usually rendered in English as Intercession. From the thirteenth century onwards that was the meaning of the image of Christ Enthroned attended by the Virgin and Saint John the Baptist interceding on behalf of humanity at the Throne of Judgment.

The choice of images depicted on the wings may suggest a monastic origin for our icon. In the upper zone on the left we see Saint Athanasius of Alexandria and on the right Saint Basil the Great, both bishops, ‘doctors of the church’ and considered founders of monasticism in the fourth century. Below that we see two military saints: Saint George slaying the dragon on the left and Saint Demetrios who may be killing Tsar Kaloyan. This imagery of Saint Demetrios slaying Tsar Kaloyan probably dates to the 15th century from the Bulgarian Dragalevtsi Monastery or possibly Decani Monastery in present day Kosovo.