San Damiano cross
The Cross of San Damiano or Francis cross is a cross or a cross - Table icon in front of the St. Francis of Assisi heard the order to restore the Church of San Damiano. The Cross of San Damiano now hangs in the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi.
Tradition
When prayer in San Damiano, as in 1205, the voice of Christ saying, according to tradition, the Cross in San Damiano to Francis:
In this vision he go begging building materials, and began, according to his biographers with the handwritten restore the small Romanesque church.
Description
The approximately two -meter-high wooden cross by an unknown Italian master of 11-12. Century painted in the Byzantine style.
There are 33 figures in the Cross Icon: two Christ figures, one hand of the Father, the five main characters, two smaller figures, fourteen angels, two unknowns on his hands, a little boy, six unknowns at the bottom of the cross and a cock. There are 33 nail heads along the frame on the Half Shell and seven to the halo.
At the foot of the cross, the six cartridge Umbria (John, Michael, Rufinus, John, Peter, Paul) are shown, look up the Jesus being lifted up to heaven. In addition to Jesus among the crosses are Mary and John. On the other hand, there was Mary Magdalene, Mary Cleophas ( mother of James ), and the Roman centurion of Capernaum ( centurion ), whose servant or son ( on the left shoulder of the centurion shown) of Jesus healed (Mt 8.5 -13 EU, Jn 4.46 to 54 EU), whereupon his whole family ( with three heads known to faith behind him indicated ). The names of the five main witnesses of the crucifixion are posted under their pictures.
In Christian iconography, Longinus, together with the sponge carrier Stephaton often a pair on either side of the cross. So the little figure on the left is the spearmen Longinus and the little figure on the right ( without inscription ) is Stephaton which Christ has made fat with the vinegar sponge. A tap near the left leg of Jesus calls for vigilance and recalls the denial by Peter.
The horizontal bar represents the empty grave of Jesus. Under the arms of the Crucified One, two angels are visible, turn to the empty grave talking to each other and have their hands on Jesus. Left and right outside of the hands of Jesus we see the two women ( angels) who go to the grave on Easter morning and found only the empty grave. The angels refer to the Risen One.
A medallion in the upper part of the icon shows Jesus with a golden cross in his hand surrounded by angels at His ascension. In the half medallion at the top of the icon the right blessing hand of God appears.
Is above the head of Jesus: " IHS NAZARE REX IUDEORUM " (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews ).