Holy Trinity New Testament Icon

This handmade Orthodox icon depicts the Holy Trinity in the New Testament form (also called the Throne of Mercy or Paternitas), showing God the Father enthroned, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit as a dove. It is distinct from the universally accepted Old Testament Trinity (Hospitality of Abraham) and has been used mainly in Russian and post-Byzantine traditions.

Christ is shown with the cross-shaped halo, inscribed with the Greek letters Ω Ο Ν (Omega, Omicron, Nu), meaning “He Who Is,” affirming His eternal divinity revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. The abbreviation IC XC (Jesus Christ) appears beside Him, while God the Father is depicted as the Ancient of Days, a portrayal accepted in some Orthodox iconographic schools but treated with caution in others, since the Father is without visible form. The Holy Spirit is shown as a dove, recalling the baptism of Christ in the Jordan.

The Orthodox Church commemorates the mystery of the Holy Trinity on Pentecost Sunday, fifty days after Pascha (Easter), when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.

The Holy Trinity New Testament icon is a meaningful gift for weddings and anniversaries (symbolizing unity and love), for baptisms and chrismations (invoking the Spirit’s presence), for clergy and students of theology, and as a central blessing for new homes. Families often place this icon in the main prayer corner as a reminder of the eternal mystery of God’s love.