Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena
The "Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena" is a significant piece of Coptic art, dating back to the 8th century. It is an encaustic painting on wood, originally from the Apollo Monastery in Bawit, Egypt, and currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The icon measures approximately 57 by 57 centimeters and is considered one of the oldest known Coptic icons[1][2][3].
The icon depicts Christ with a cruciform halo, standing beside Abbot Saint Menas, who was the superior of the monastery at the time. Christ is slightly taller and is shown with his right hand on Mena's shoulder, symbolizing protection and introduction. Both figures are depicted frontally, wearing tunics and palliums of different colors, with Christ in purple and Mena in brown. Christ holds a richly adorned Book of the Gospels, while Mena holds a scroll, possibly containing monastic rules[2][4].
The icon is noted for its serene elegance and is a masterpiece of Coptic art, reflecting the unique artistic traditions developed by the Egyptian church during the 6th century[6].
Sources
[1] Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_of_Christ_and_Abbot_Mena
[2] Icon of Christ and St. Menas at the Louvre Museum https://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/christ-menas
[3] Christ and Abbot Menas, c.750 - Orthodox Icons - WikiArt.org https://www.wikiart.org/en/orthodox-icons/christ-and-abbot-menas-750
[4] The Icon of Christ and His Friend | FuelForPilgrims - WordPress.com https://fuelforpilgrims.wordpress.com/2015/08/18/the-icon-of-christ-and-his-friend/
[5] Christ and Saint Menas Icon - F214 - Legacy Icons https://legacyicons.com/christ-and-saint-menas-icon-f214/
[6] THE OLDEST KNOWN COPTIC ICON: CHRIST AND ABBOT MENA https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/the-oldest-known-coptic-icon-christ-and-abbot-mena/
[7] The Icon of Christ and St. Menas - Scott Walters's Blog https://scottwalters.wordpress.com/the-icon-of-christ-and-st-menas/