The artwork “King of Kings, The Queen Stands at Your Right Hand” is a distinctive interpretation of the Deesis composition, portraying Christ as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). It initially served as an illustration for a verse from Psalm 44: “The queen stood at Your right hand, clothed in gold…” (Psalm 45:10–11), where, according to interpretative tradition, Christ is the king, and the Mother of God-Church is the queen. This depiction emerged in Serbian art during the 14th–15th centuries before it spread to Rus’. In the earliest versions of the “King of Kings” composition (“The Queen Stands Before Me”), John the Baptist was not included; instead, King David and other prophets were depicted (Fresco in Zaum, near Ohrid, 1361; Markov Monastery, 1370). John the Baptist was later added as a witness to the mystical union (John 3:29). Christ’s portrayal in a royal manner often combines with the Great Bishop style.
In this depiction, Jesus Christ sits on a throne, symbolizing both royal authority and the universe—both visible and invisible realms. He wears a dalmatic, the garment of Byzantine emperors, and a tiara or sometimes an archbishop’s kamilavkion, reflecting the “Great Hierarch” type. Consequently, an omophorion is frequently depicted over the dalmatic. In one hand, Christ holds a scepter or the Gospel (or sometimes both), while the other hand is raised in a blessing gesture. Occasionally, the Gospel is substituted with a sphere. In some variations, a sword is illustrated to the left of his lips, drawing from the text of Revelation.
The image may stand alone or as part of the composition “The Queen stands at your right hand,” with Christ positioned before the Mother of God on the right and John the Baptist on the left. There are also more elaborate compositions where Christ is accompanied by archangels, evangelists, and selected saints, sometimes shown on the margins of the icon or in medallions.
The Great Hierarch (Saviour Great Hierarch) is one symbolic title for Christ, presenting him as the New Testament High Priest offering himself (refer to Eucharist). This concept is based on the Old Testament prophecy, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4), elaborated on by the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 5:6). It inspired a particular depiction of Christ in bishop’s vestments, appearing both independently and alongside other symbolic representations of Christ as the Heavenly King.
Another notable symbolic title for Christ, taken from the Old Testament (Isaiah 9:6), is the Angel of the Great Council. This inspired a depiction of Christ as a winged archangel, appearing both on its own and in various symbolic and theological compositions (“The Creation of the World” – “And God rested on the seventh day…” and others).
Source in Russian: Dictionary and index of names and concepts in Old Russian art / E. V. Gladysheva, L. V. Nersesyan. – M.: “Almanac “Strange World”, 1991. – 79 p. (Library of the almanac “Strange World”; Issue 1).
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