This extraordinarily large icon is so complex that the Museum commissioned a study of it shortly after it entered the collection. Boris Knorre, associate professor of humanities at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow analyzed the icon and wrote a 30 page paper detailing the ways in which this icon is similar to—and distinct from—other large Last Judgment icons. One reason for its complexity is that, unlike most icons, Last Judgment icons such as this do not show a single narrative. Rather, this icon combines several detailed Biblical stories from the Old and New Testaments. Together, they show the Church’s teachings about divine justice and the fate of humans after death.

We know that this icon comes from the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia. There are two other Last Judgment icons of similar scale and complexity in the regional Yaroslavl Museum. Let’s look at a few specific passages to understand the extreme detail of this masterpiece.

At the very center of the icon is the Etimasia, or the “Throne Prepared” in Greek, representing the second coming of Christ. Under the table is the Hand of God, holding a balance or scale on which the souls of the dead will be judged.

To the left of the center on the bottom of the icon you will see a circle with four fantastical animals. The beasts have inscriptions.  Reading the symbols and inscriptions clock-wise we see the bear showing it teeth personifying the Person Kingdom; the words “Hellenic Kingdom” appear on the three-headed golden winged leopard;  the strange lumbering ten -horned beast represents the Roman Empire; and finally the winged lion stands in for the Babylonian Kingdom. These four animals are the symbols of the doomed earthly kingdoms, soon to be replaced at the Last Judgment by the Kingdom of God.

Many of these apocalyptic scenes come from the Book of Daniel. However, the text around the edge comes from various sources. For instance, this icon has a unique reference at the bottom which comes from the 5th century Homily of Cyril of Alexandria. Though this is popular in Greek and Russian Orthodox prayer books, it is an unexpected addition in an icon.

We can go on-and-on reading the symbols - the pilloried righteous man, a sinner who is nonetheless virtuous in most areas; the sin worm depicting the individual torments of specific sins that predict the trial and tribulations that the damned must suffer. The sin worm ends at the mouth of the winged Satan, the fallen Archangel Lucifer, riding his horned beast. In Satan’s lap, holding his pieces of silver, is Judas.

To the right of the prepared throne and the Hand of God, groups of angels throw sinners into hell using trident-like weapons. The group of sinners closest to these angels represent foreigners who do not practice the Orthodox faith. The group below them, and closer to the fires of hell, represent Russian Orthodox people who did not uphold the tenets of their faith. Here, national groups are separated in hell as on earth.

This icon is intended to teach viewers that the wages of sin are damnation and that the last judgment is inevitable. This imagery is often displayed to the right on the back wall of Russian Orthodox churches so that worshippers as they leave the church are reminded of the judgment that awaits.