Here is the description of this icon from OrthodoxGifts.com
OrthodoxGifts.com wrote:Ark of the Holy Orthodox Church Icon
We've been searching for this icon for years and have finally found it for you!
This 10' x 8" icon is the ultimate conversion icon, depicting the Holy Orthodox Church and various attackers of her throughout history. This icon says it all! A MUST for every parish!
Here's a brief explanation of the iconography:
In the center, you can see the Church symbolized as a ship with Christ at the helm holding the holy Rudder, (the book of Holy Canons). Inside the Ark is the Theotokos, and the four Evangelists: Saints John, Matthew, Mark and Luke. At the bow are Saints Peter and Paul, holding the anchor, which is shaped in a three pronged end, signifying belief in the Trinity. Behind them are the Holy Fathers: Saint John Chrysostom, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Basil the Great, St. Athanasios of Alexandria, and St. Gregory Palamas, with multitudes of holy Fathers, and Mothers, and Martyrs, etc., as signified by the halos, symbolizing the bosom of the Church, both triumphant and militant. On the bottom of the icon are the enemies of Christ and His Church; those who have fought against Her and persecuted Her, which means they have fought against Christ Himeself.
From left to right, the Antichrist is depicted as a king on his horse and behind him is an old man with a crown on his head, signifying Israel with the star of David on his crown, holding a bag of gold. He has his arm around the harlot of the Apocalypse, with her cup in her hand. Below the Antichrist are those who will fight for him. As he will come from Jewish lineage, will reign in Jerusalem and will want all to submit to him. Those who refuse will be persecuted. This is the symbolism of those who are under the caption called Antichrist and his Minions. Next to him to the right is a dreadful-looking beast, called New Age. New Age is a revival of paganism presented with new packaging. It encompasses the Occult, which has absolutely no reverence for Christ. Next to him is a king on a horse, with a drawn sword in his hand and he is labeled The Persecuting Ruler. Throughout the history of the Church, kings, emperors, governors, etc., have abused their power either by trying to destroy the Church, or by reaching into the realm of the Church to govern it themselves, which is forbidden to them. The Church is governed only by the bishops. Next to him is one example, the Emperor Leo the Iconoclast, who has a spear in his hand, ready to throw it at the Ark, because he dared to take away the icons which are the glory of the Church and also a dogma which one must believe in to be Orthodox. Next to him is Luther, with a rifle, ready to shoot. Luther, of course, rebelled against papal abuses, but instead of going back to the Orthodox Church, created his new church, which is properly named not after Christ, but after him. This man symbolizes all of Protestantism which followed his bad example.
Next to him is the Communist leader Lenin, with his Russian pistol carefully aimed at the heart of Christ. Lenin tried to destroy the Russian Church by putting his own KGB agents as bishops and killed Patriarch Tikhon.
Next to Lenin on the bottom right side is a great beast, with an open mouth, and in his mouth is Mohammed with his tumor on his back, with a drawn bow and arrow directed at the Ark. Mohammed had a tumor of dead skin that protruded from his back, which he told the Arabs was the mark of him being a prophet. Islam has subjugated the Church in the East since the eighth century.
Above him is the Pope, with a long, hooked rod, trying to pull down the bow, either to capsize the boat or redirect it in a direction contrary to the direction that Christ is steering the Ark. When the present day papacy came into being around the year 1054, the pope proclaimed himself as the vicar of Christ and also Christ on earth, thus fighting against the true Christ.
Next to him is Eftyches, the heresiarch who would not accept the decision of the 4th and 5th Ecumenical Councils that Christ has two natures: Christ is both perfect God and perfect man. Eftyches divided the Church with his followers who believed that Christ had only one nature. Therefore, he is depicted with a pointed cowl on his head, which is what the Monophysites (the Egyptian Copts and Armenians) wear to this day. Behind Eftyches is depicted the demon of the Monophysites and Monothelites.
Next above him is the "Orthodox" Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras, the father of modern day Ecumenism. He also has a hooked rod, trying to redirect the path of the Church. He was a 32nd degree Freemason, and behind him is the demon of Masonry, who has around his waist the apron which Masons wear with the square and compass and the letter G in the middle. Masons embrace all peoples and faiths into their religion; Ecumenism accepts all religions with a desire to create a one world religion, i.e., Ecumenism: the heresy of all heresies.
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