A finely painted icon showing the Holy Archangel Michael the Archistrategos, the Commander of the Heavenly armies. St Michael in a suit of armour, winged and crowned, is shown riding across the sky on a winged red rearing charger, blowing on a trumpet and swinging a censer announcing the Last Judgment. In his right hand is a spear with which he slays the Antichrist. In his left hand, he holds a closed Book of Gospels – a symbol of the fulfilment of the New Testament. Above him amid clouds appears Christ Emmanuel before the Hetoimasia (Greek ἑτοιμασία, “preparation”), or the Prepared Throne of the Second Coming.
