The Harrowing of Hell (Holy Saturday)
Anastasis, Greek for Resurrection
30 X 40 - acrylic on birch panel
The Harrowing of Hell: From the Apostle's Creed, He descended into hell. See below.
The icon depicts Christ descending into hell on Holy Saturday from a mandorla, breaking down the gates of hell to save all the souls who had died before. Typically depicted in the icon are, from the left, King Solomon, King David, John the Baptist. On the right is Moses, the shepherd Able with others while angels look on. Christ is pulling Adam and Eve from their sepulchers.
A lecture by Dr. Brant Pitre on YouTube exploring three different interruptions of "descending into hell."
More about this event and icon from wikipedia and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and from the Orthodox Church.
I painted this piece for an Orthodox church.
The APOSTLE'S CREED:
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
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