Orthodox icon | Baptism of Jesus | Theophany | 24629

Material: bronze/brass/yellow metal with multicoloured enamel.

All four Gospels report that Jesus came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. The image motif can be found very early in Christian art and is later developed richly in connection with the festival hymns and baptismal rites.

The following picture scheme has developed in icon painting: Jesus stands in the waters of the Jordan while John is baptized. Serving angels stand with handkerchiefs on the bank as witnesses. It is not uncommon to see sea creatures and the Jordan god fleeing from or worshiping Christ in the Jordan floods, which are usually depicted squeezed into a narrow rock valley.

The “Baptism of Christ” is the festival icon for January 6, one of the oldest Christian festivals. Its origins go back to pagan, but also Christian consecration of the Nile on the occasion of its regular floods December 25 and January 25 and can be followed up to the 2nd/3rd century. This festival of January 6th was finally called “Theophany – appearance of a deity”. To this day, the focus is still on the consecration of water on the nearest river, which was carried out with great participation by the population.