Page 60 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

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studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 12 (2024), številka 2 / volume 12 (2024), number 2

Figure 8: Crucifixion, Dečani Monastery, Courtesy of BLAGO Fund, Inc

The Second Coming of Christ sources by emphasizing the sensory experience
that heralds the Second Coming of Christ. From
For the Lord himself will come down from the heavens descends a young, beardless Christ,
heaven, with a loud command, with the seated on a throne, extending both arms in a ges-
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet ture of blessing. The adorned throne, shaped like
call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise a chest with closed front and side panels, fea-
first. After that, we who are still alive and left tures a low backrest, behind which rises an ellip-
will be caught up with them in the clouds to soid mandorla of light, gradually brightening to-
meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be ward the edges. The throne is supported by two
with the Lord forever [1 Thes 4:16–17]. symmetrically curved angels in flight, facing the
The composition depicting the Second Fearsome Judge: each holds the throne with one
Coming of Christ represents one of the most hand while grasping the hem of their garments
sensory interpretations within Christian the- with the other. Beneath Christ’s bare feet hov-
ology, encompassing all senses and extending ers a purple cushion, symbolizing his divine au-
its significance to humanity. No other glob- thority and the majestic nature of this event (fig.
al event, theological or otherwise, can compare 9). According to the words of Aleksandra Dav-
its profound impact and universal importance idov Temerinski, the primary biblical source for
to this specific New Testament event. The Rev- this scene is the text of the evangelist Matthew:
elation maintains the vibrant and rich imagery “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fa-
of the apocryphal books while simultaneously ther’s glory with his angels, and then he will re-
transcending the boundaries of non-canonical ward each person according to what they have