Inscription in Slavonic: The gospel that Christ holds: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek.’ Matthew 11:28-29

The Greek word ‘Deesis’ means literally ‘entreaty’ and is usually rendered today as Intercession. Certainly that was the meaning of the image of Christ Enthroned attended by The Virgin and John the Baptist from the period of the 13th century. However the composition is older and examples are known from the 9th century when the meaning was not so much that of intercession but rather that of honouring Mary and John as the first witnesses of Christ’s divinity. The composition soon grew into the so-called Extended Deesis or Great Deesis where many further intercessors were included. The top row of this icon depicts (left to right), Saint …, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Nicholas. The middle row depicts, Mary, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, and St John the Baptist. On the bottom row Sts Zossim and Savattii kneel at Christ’s feet.

The origin of the variant known as the Solovki Deesis is associated with the famous Transfiguration Monastery on the island of Solovki, by the shores of the White Sea