John the Baptist

The icon depicts Saint John the Baptist (“Prodromos” or “Forerunner”), pointing to the bust-length portrait of Christ. The Greek inscription on the scroll reads in translation: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Christ is depicted here as the promised sacrificial lamb. A nun belonging to the Akritohori Convent created the icon. Although women aren’t allowed on the Holy Mountain, they can help support the monasteries by providing gifts. There are a number of convents of nuns on the Greek mainland under the protection of Mount Athos, including the convent of Saint John the Baptist at Akritohori, which is a dependency of the Monastery of Xenophontos. Saint John the Baptist is a suitable subject for the icon because he is the patron saint of the convent.