Christ Pantocrator
I am checking out this Byzantine mosaic—Christ Pantocrator—and my eyes focus on the Greek text on the page opposite to the Lord’s fingers. (The side with the fingers is Latin)
Asides from the calligraphy employed, the capital Greek letters can be made out as follows...
ΕΓΩ ΕΙΜΙ ΤΟ ΦΩΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ Ο ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΩΝ ΕΜΟΙ ΟΥ ΜΗ ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΗΣΗ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΣΚΟΤΙΑ ΑΛΛ ΕΞΕΙ ΤΟ ΦΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΖΩΗΣ (spaces are added).
The same line can be written out in lower-case letters this way...
ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου• ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλ̓ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.
Trying to remember my New Testament Greek, it dawns on me and I say to myself, “Self, this is a quote from the Book of John, chapter 8 verse 12.”
Here's the English Standard Version translation of the passage…
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
How beautiful is that! Christ the Almighty (Pantocrator), the Light of the World. Those who follow Him possess the light of life. They are too can reflect His glory as a light to the nations.
~ WGN
Asides from the calligraphy employed, the capital Greek letters can be made out as follows...
ΕΓΩ ΕΙΜΙ ΤΟ ΦΩΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ Ο ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΩΝ ΕΜΟΙ ΟΥ ΜΗ ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΗΣΗ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΣΚΟΤΙΑ ΑΛΛ ΕΞΕΙ ΤΟ ΦΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΖΩΗΣ (spaces are added).
The same line can be written out in lower-case letters this way...
ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου• ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλ̓ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.
Trying to remember my New Testament Greek, it dawns on me and I say to myself, “Self, this is a quote from the Book of John, chapter 8 verse 12.”
Here's the English Standard Version translation of the passage…
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
How beautiful is that! Christ the Almighty (Pantocrator), the Light of the World. Those who follow Him possess the light of life. They are too can reflect His glory as a light to the nations.
~ WGN
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