Icon of the Extreme Humiliation (Akra Tapeinosis) — Christ in the Tomb

This hagiography depicts the Akra Tapeinosis (the Extreme Humiliation), a Byzantine iconographic type showing the body of Christ supported by the Virgin, arms crossed and resting on the edge of the tomb. This composition recalls the culmination of the Passion: Christ's death on the Cross, accepted to redeem humanity from its separation from God.

The icon carries the traditional inscriptions ΙС ΧС (Jesus Christ) and ΜΡ ΘΥ (Mother of God), along with the Greek letters Ο, Ω, Ν inscribed in Christ's cruciform halo, a formula referring to the divine revelation of the Burning Bush — "I Am Who I Am." The Virgin's gesture, supporting the body without looking away, underscores the scene's dual dimension of sorrow and redemption.

Hand-painted on straight wood, this hagiography pairs a colored background with a faux-gold finish, offering a shine close to genuine gold at a more accessible cost.

In a 22 x 35 cm format, it combines a bust portrait with narrative elements of this Passion scene, a composition particularly associated with the services of Holy Friday and Holy Saturday in Orthodox tradition.

Like every hand-painted hagiography, this icon is one of a kind. Given to accompany a time of reflection during Holy Week or acquired to enrich a collection of religious items, it recalls the victory of the Resurrection at the very heart of the deepest humiliation.