Saint John the Baptist

The untamed prophet who preceded the coming of the Lord Jesus is portrayed in this icon, with his ascetic face and unruly prophet´s hair. John wears his camel´s hair tunic, and the hairy portions are painted in the traditional color of blue in memory of the Jordan River, where he did his preaching and baptizing. His cloak shows the colors of the wilderness and the dusty desert. John holds the scroll of his prophetic message and the staff of authority, which ends in a cross, recalling his words about the Messiah: “Behold the Lamb of God!”. The other hand is raised in blessing. His face shows both severity and sweetness, and he himself is a monumental figure of repentance and humility beofre the coming of the Lord.