
Icon inscriptions are symbols and acronyms accepted in the Russian Orthodox icon-painting tradition. Inscriptions can be made both in Church Slavonic and in Greek language. In these inscriptions, contracture is widely used (from lat. “shrinking”), which is writing a reduced form of a word with the help of its first and last letters. Above such words, a special symbol called titlo ( ҃ ) is written. The reduced form of the name Jesus Christ, consisting of two pairs of letters is IC XC. The cruciform halo reminds us about the Savior’s death on the Cross, the redemptive effect of which covered the whole world – “it is crosswise, for with the Cross He saved the world”. Number “four” is the symbol of spatial fullness. Four “ends”, which make a cross, connect four cardinal points.
In three visible sides of the cross within the halo, the Greek word O Ѡ N is written, which means “I AM”. That manner appeared in the 11th century. This inscription highlights the Divine nature of Jesus Christ in accordance with the revelation Moses got from the bush: “I am Who I am” (Exodus 3:14).
In Russian icon-painting tradition, Greek letter Ѡ (omega) is replaced by Ѿ (ot).
On Greek and Bulgarian icons, letter O (omicron) is placed on the left, Ѡ (omega) – in the top, N (nu) – on the right. The whole inscription is read in a circle from left to right.
For Russian icons a different order is more common: Ѡ (o) or Ѿ (ot) is on the left, Ѻ (on) in in the top, Н (nash) is on the right. The inscription is read by lines beginning from the top and then from left to right in the second line.
It must be noted that the biblical explanation of the words was not the only one in ancient Rus. From the old-rite literature, we can learn that there was another explanation. Perhaps, it was naïve to some extent, but still it did not violate any dogmatic rules of the Church. According to it, three letters expressed first of all three natures of God. Secondly, the Divine nature of Jesus Christ: Ѿ (ot) – “fatherly”. Ѻ (on) – “oum”, Н (nash) – “inconceivable Son”. Thirdly, the incarnation of the Son of God and His sufferings: Ѿ (ot) – “from Heaven He came”, Ѻ (on) – “they who did not conceive Me”, Н (nash) – “crucified on the Cross”.
As can be seen from these explanations, the order of reading the symbols was also not unified and could be changed, tearing apart any connections with the Greek tradition and replacing the words “I AM” with the word Ѿ Ѻ Н .

Inscriptions on icons
The inscriptions on ancient icons were quite simple. Some widely-known words were reduced. Apart from Ιησους Χρηστος, such words as Αρχαγγελος, ο Δικαιος, ο Προφητης, ο Αγιος и η Αγια could also be written in their short forms.
The names were supposed to be legible. However, if we speak about St. Johns (Forerunner, Chrysostom). We should point out that often both their names and titles (ο Προδρομος, ο Χρυσοστομος) were shortened.
Greek
|
Church Slavonic
|
Translation
|
Θεος
|
Бгъ
|
God
|
–
|
Гдъ
|
The Lord
|
ΙΣ ΧΣ
|
IС
ХС, IИС ХС, IСЪ ХСЪ |
Ιησουσ
Χριστος, Jesus Christ |
ΙΧΘYΣ
|
–
|
Literally “fish”, an ancient acronym
for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior |
–
|
Црь слвы
|
The King of Glory
|
ΜΠ ΘY
|
МН БЖН
|
Greek: short for Μητερ Θεου
Church Slavonic: the Mother of God
|
–
|
1. Б. М.
2. БЦА
3. П. Б.
|
1. Mother of God
2. Theotokos
3. Holy Theotokos
|
–
|
I. Н. Ц. I
|
Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews
|
ΤΚΠΓ
|
МЛ РБ
|
Greek: short for Τουτο Κρανιον
Παραδεισος Γεγονε Church Slavonic: short for Calvary, the place of execution
|
–
|
ГГ
|
Mount Golgotha, the inscription at
the bottom of the Cross |
–
|
ГА
|
Adam’s head, the inscription near
the skull of Adam at the bottom of the Cross |
–
|
К
|
Lance – one of the weapons of
passions, depicted near the Cross |
–
|
Т
|
Cane – one of the weapons of
passions, depicted near the Cross |
–
|
КТ
|
Short for Lance and Cane – the weapons
of passions |
ΑΓΙΟΣ,αγιος
|
АГИOС, СВЯТЫЙ,
СТЫ, СТН,СТИ, СТ, СВ |
Saint
|
ΑΓΙΑ, αγια
|
АГИА, СТАЯ
|
Saint (women)
|
ΟΚΑ, ΟΑΚ
|
–
|
Righteous
|
–
|
ПРO
|
Prophet
|
–
|
АПЛЪ
|
Apostle
|
–
|
СТЛЬ
|
Hierarch (bishop saint)
|
–
|
МЧ, МЧНК
|
Martyr
|
–
|
ПР
|
Venerable
|
Examples and types of inscriptions
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Jesus Christ, Pskov, 15th century |
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Jesus Christ, Greece, 16th century |
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Jesus Christ, Rus, 16th century |
![]() |
Mother of God, Byzantium, 14th century |
![]() |
Mother of God, Rus, 16th century |
![]() |
Mother of God, Serbia, 14th century |
![]() |
Archangel, Byzantium, 12th century |
![]() |
Archangel, Greece, 16th century |
![]() |
Archangel, Greece, 16th century |
![]() |
Prophet, Greece, 16th century |
![]() |
Prophet, Rus, 15th century |
![]() |
Saint, Bulgaria, 14th century |
![]() |
Saint, Serbia, 14th century |
![]() |
Saint, Rus, 17th century |
![]() |
Saint, Rus, 12th-13th centuries |
![]() |
Saint, Greece, 16th century |
![]() |
Apostle, Rus, 16th century |
![]() |
Apostle, Rus, 17th century |
![]() |
Martyr, Rus, 16th century |
![]() |
Martyr, Rus, 17th century |
![]() |
John, Rus, 15th century |
![]() |
John, Greece, 16th century |
![]() |
John, Rus, 16th century |
![]() |
Forerunner, Greece, 16th century |
![]() |
Forerunner, Rus, 16th century |
![]() |
Chrysostom, Byzantium, 11th century |
![]() |
Chrysostom, Greece, 16th century |
Translated by The Catalog of Good Deeds
What does "Panton Khara" mean on an icon of the Theotokos?
Never heard of such inscription. Could you show an example?
it means “Joy of all” (people, angels…)
thank you for your explanations of icons. i have been looking at some modern icons, and I cannot decipher some of the abbreviations that have been used. can you help with these, please?
Good day. What exactly abbreviations you want to know?
Good day! I’m not Bruce, but there is an abbreviation on an icon, presumably Bulgarian, that I don’t understand: MT БXX – any idea? In which regions MT is used instead of MP, or MH?
Thank you!
I m having trouble finding the translation under an icon. It reads; “Оьгазь прмыя бцы корсуnскaя.” I couldn’t find the words in the Russian dictionary. I only have a photo of the lower 1/4 of the actual icon and can’t find it anywhere.
Dear Greg, it means “Korsun Icon of the Mother of God”. Korsun is the old name of Chersonesos, a Byzantine city in Crimea.
Hi, can someone please help me decipher what this old bronze icon says? I’m having a really hard time making out the letters, but maybe someone has seen something similar or can provide an educated guess. Thank you so much in advance
https://postimg.cc/QK5QQx90
On some Orthodox and Byzantine crosses there are the letters HHKA somewhere towards the lower part or at the very bottom. Please what do these letters mean. I have such a cross and sadly do not know. Thank you in advance and God`s Blessings.
Could you please send us a photo so we can see how exactly the inscription looks like? st.elisabeth.shop@gmail.com