The icon depicts the crucified Christ flanked by mourners and surmounted by God the Father, framing the icon in four parts. They depict Christ Pantocrator, St. Michael the Archangel and Chief Commander of the Heavenly Host, St. unmercenary healer Pantaleon (Panteleimon), and St. Paraskeve of Iconium (Friday).
The Holy Archangel Michael is one of the most celebrated of the Angels called the Archistrategos, or chief commander, of all the bodiless powers. According to the Holy Scripture and Tradition, he has interceded for humanity multiple times and continues to serve as the Defender of the Faith. Saint Michael is most often invoked for protection from invasion by enemies and from civil war, and for the defeat of adversaries on the field of battle.
Greatmartyr Panteleimon (or Pantaleon) was the Unmercenary Healer martyred under the reign of Emperor Maximian (ca. 305 A.D.). Saint Panteleimon had been educated as a physician and dedicated his life to the suffering, the sick, the unfortunate, and the needy. He treated all those who turned to him without charge, healing them in the name of Jesus Christ. He visited those held captive in prison. These were usually Christians, and he healed them of their wounds. Saint Panteleimon is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a mighty saint and the protector of soldiers. This aspect of his veneration is derived from his first name Pantaleon, which means “a lion in everything”. His second name, Panteleimon, given him at Baptism, which means “all-merciful,” manifests in the veneration of the martyr as a healer. The connection between these two aspects of the saint is readily apparent in that soldiers, receiving wounds more frequently than others, are more in need of a physician-healer. Christians waging spiritual warfare also have recourse to this saint, asking him to heal their spiritual wounds.
Saint Paraskevi of Iconium (also known as Paraskeva Pyatnitsa) is venerated as a Christian virgin martyr. Her parents were Christian, and Paraskevi was named as such (the name means “Friday” in Greek) because she was baptized on a Friday and because Friday was the day of Christ's Passion. She became a preacher, and according to tradition, converted Emperor Antoninus Pius to Christianity, but, subsequently martyred at Iconium during the persecutions of Diocletian. Saint Paraskevi-Pyatnitsa developed a personality and functions of her own on Russian soil. She is traditionally depicted as an ascetic figure wearing the red of martyrdom. She holds an Eastern cross in one hand and a scroll professing her faith in another. In Russia, Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa is the patroness of traders and fairs, and of the Holy Matrimony.
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