Deisis

KENNETH CARVELEY

The term means “intercession” and denotes the icon of Christ enthroned with the Theo­tokos to his right and John the Forerunner to his left. This iconographic scheme has a cen­tral place in the row of icon panels above the Royal Doors of the Iconostasis. The two intercessory figures are seen as supplicating Christ on behalf of humankind, possibly in the prospect of the Last Judgment, and may be related to intercessions within the liturgy. There are references to the Deisis (δέησις) in the 8th century. The most celebrated Deisis is in the gallery of Hagia Sophia, Con­stantinople (12th century). This trimorphon also appears in Byzantine carved ivories and other sculptural forms.

SEE ALSO· Divine Liturgy, Orthodox; Ico­nostasis; Icons

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Buckton, D. (ed.) (1994) Byzantium. London· British Museum Press.

Lowden, J. (1997) Early Christian and Byzantine Art. London: Phaidon.

Matthews, T. (1998) The Art of Byzantium. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

Walter, C. (1968) “Two Notes on the Deisis,” Revue des etudes Byzantines 26: 311.