Icons From the Catacombs

The ancient "IC XC NIKA" cross is very common in Eastern Christianity. An abbreviation that means "Jesus Christ conquers", the pattern is stamped on the holy bread used for the Eucharist, and is frequently used in every kind of decoration. Let this...

This ancient icon is a stunning reproduction of one of the earliest depictions of Jesus Christ. Found in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and painted in the 3rd century during the later persecutions of the church, the anonymous iconographer portrays...

This late 3rd century fresco is from the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome. It is an allegorical icon, depicting a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. Two other sheep look up to him, and in the background are two trees with birds of paradise...

This ancient fresco icon depicts the Theotokos and Christ in one of the earliest known representations. From the Roman catacombs of Priscilla, it dates from the second half of the 3rd century during a time of continued persecution. The anonymous...

This beautiful example of early Christian iconography (2nd or 3rd century) is from the Roman catacombs. It depicts our Lord Jesus as the Sower from the parable in Matthew 23, Mark 4, and Luke 8. Together with the Good Shepherd and Pantocrator...

This ancient fresco icon is one of the earliest known depictions of Christ Pantocrator. Located in the 4th century Catacombs of Commodilla near Rome, it depicts Christ with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, "the beginning and the end." A high-quality...

In the image we see Christ enthroned at the top between the Apostles Peter and Paul, who raise their hands in a gesture of prayer and supplication. Christ's halo is like a rainbow, with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega ("the beginning and the end")...

This beautiful fresco is from the Coemeterium Maius catacombs and dates to the mid-4th century. The blessed Virgin holds Christ in her lap and raises her hands in the "Orans" posture of prayer, which is very common in catacomb iconography. In...