Icon - Wood - VASSIL, GREGORY AND JOHN

Three Hierarchs of the Eastern Church, one of the most recognizable compositions in Orthodox iconography.

From left to right appear:

Saint Basil the Great (Βασίλειος ὁ Μέγας)
Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (Γρηγόριος ὁ Θεολόγος), in the center
Saint John Chrysostom (Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος)

The inscriptions in ecclesiastical Slavonic (Cyrillic) clearly identify each one as “Saint…” followed by his name.

1. Iconographic type

This is the classic type of the Three Hierarchs, which symbolizes:

- The doctrinal unity of the Church
- The theological authority
- The synthesis between liturgy, preaching, and thought

Each one represents an aspect:

Basilios → monastic and liturgical organization
Gregory → mystical and trinitarian theology
John Chrysostom → preaching and eloquence

All share common elements:

Nimbus: sign of holiness
Closed book or gospel book: doctrinal authority
Episcopal vestments: omophorion with crosses

Basilios: austere face, long beard → ascetic character
Gregory: older, abundant beard → theological wisdom
John Chrysostom: more elongated face → tradition of oratory

Frontal and symmetric arrangement, typical of Byzantine and Russian art
Dark and neutral background → eliminates the earthly
Isolated figures → emphasizes their individuality within the unity

At the top there appears a small medallion with Christ (IC XC), which legitimizes their authority as teachers of the Church.

Probably a Russian or Slavonic icon (18th–19th centuries)
Features:
- Simplification of forms
- Flat colors (green, red, blue)
- Defined contours
- Less refinement than the classical Byzantine school

Represents doctrinal Orthodoxy
Stresses the continuity of apostolic tradition
Teaches that Christian wisdom is plural but unified

In the Orthodox Church, these three saints are celebrated together on January 30 as a symbol of theological harmony.

We are confronted with a devotional icon of the Three Hierarchs, of Slavonic tradition, that combines:

- Didactic clarity
- Theological symbolism
- Simple yet deeply meaningful aesthetics