Posted on 11/09/2014 7:43:03 AM PST by Salvation
Featured Term (selected at random:
PANTOKRATOR
Greek title of God, "the all mighty." It is also a familiar image of Christ depicted as ruling from heaven.
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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The literal meaning of the Greek term is more like “Ruler of Everything.”
As an outside observer of the Lutheran type, my impression is that the Pantokrator aspect of Christ’s divinity is emphasized more among the Orthodox than among the Catholics—which spills over into the Lutheran church, of course, where Christ the Redeemer is emphasized more than Christ the Ruler.
I think you're right.
Interesting and good observations. After all, Father Martin Luther was German so his emphasis would have been Western.
I love the mosaic at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception of Christ Pantocrator.
From a distance, it’s a rather scary portrait of Jesus, appearing all stern and judgmental. But as one closes in on the mosaic, the stern facial expression seems to soften into a kinder countenance embrace.
Here’s a link to the image:
http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7B3B17C6B3-18AB-4C42-BFF7-C6F9BCE8CAC6%7D/pic39_2.jpg
Thanks! I haven’t been there in a long time ... before Elen was born, I think, which would be around 17 years.
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