The Deesis Mosaic in Hagia Sophia

By David Raezer

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What’s A Deesis?

Organization. In Deesis depictions, Christ as Pantocrator sits enthroned in heaven at the center, flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.

Theme of mercy in judgment of humanity. The Virgin and John the Baptist appeal to Christ on behalf of humanity for mercy at the time of judgment.

Ideal intercessors. They were ideal intercessors due to their intimate relationships with Christ: the Virgin as mother and John as cousin.

Implied two-step prayer process. Intercession, then, involves a two-step prayer process. First, the faithful Christian standing before the Deesis presents a petition to one of the intercessors, who, in turn, presents it to Christ.

The Date

The actual date of the mosaic is unknown, but two possibilities prevail:

late 12th century, just before the Fourth Crusaders captured the city in 1204;
mid to late 1260s, immediately after the recovery of the city by Michael VIII Palaiologos from the Fourth Crusaders in 1261.

In either case, it is one of the later surviving mosaics in the church.

The Big Picture: What to Look For

Greatest naturalism. Although necessarily based on idealized models, the figures are the most naturalistic and intensely emotional in the church. Although the Byzantine empire was shaky politically and financially during this period (it had only two hundred years before its fall to the Ottomans), Byzantine mosaic art had arguably reached its apex. This is a masterwork.
Very small tesserae affords picture-like quality. The very small tesserae (1-2 mm) — used for the faces and hands — deliver an exceptionally large range of colors and hues that add to the naturalism.
Light. The use of natural light to enhance the image is particularly clear in this mosaic. The glass tesserae are laid at angles to take advantage of the light entering from the window at the left, which affords the image a profound dynamism.
Composition. While Christ faces out at the viewer, the Virgin and John do not. Rather, to communicate their role as intercessors, they turn their heads toward Christ and bow their heads. This arrangement creates a triangle that focuses on the head of the Pantocrator.

Deesis Mosaic Closeup, Christ, Hagia Sophia

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A More Detailed Look at the Pantocrator

Conforms to the standard model. Christ as Pantocrator appears with all of the standard features: IC XC (a monogram for Jesus Christ) inscription identifier; bearded face (symbolizing maturity as judge); direct outward gaze; right hand raised in the gesture of blessing and left grasping a (closed) book of gospels; and blue and gold robes indicating his dual human-divine nature (see figures above and to left).

Depth. Although the image is largely two-dimensional, the slight shifting of his head to the left introduces a subtle impression of depth and perspective.

Elaborate gold ground. The gold ground surrounding the figure is especially elaborate, laid out in a subtle tri-lobed pattern with many tesserae set at an angle to catch the light from the window (positioned to the left of the image). There is also a subtle foliage pattern in his halo.

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Learn more about Hagia Sophia, its mosaic art and architecture

For visitors to Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, which stands regally atop the first hill of Constantinople, is an iconic sight. The church redefined religious architecture and served as a source of inspiration for countless religious structures that followed, both Christian and Islamic.

See our guide to Hagia Sophia

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