The Tree of Jesse Icon

This is a silkscreen reproduction with gold leaf and hand-painted details, crafted according to tradition. It depicts the Tree of Jesse (also called the Root of Jesse, Genealogy of Christ), showing the ancestry of Jesus Christ. At the base of the tree lies Jesse, the father of King David, from whom the branches rise to display the prophets and forefathers. At the summit sits the Theotokos with the Christ Child, the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “A shoot shall come forth from the root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1).

Above the Virgin are the Greek letters MP ΘΥ (Meter Theou), meaning “Mother of God.” Beside Christ appear the letters IC XC, “Jesus Christ,” while His halo bears the cross inscribed with Ω Ο Ν (Omega, Omicron, Nu), “He Who Is,” proclaiming His divinity.

In the Orthodox calendar, the Tree of Jesse is honored in connection with the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers and the Sunday of the Ancestors of Christ, both celebrated in December before the Nativity.

The Tree of Jesse icon is a meaningful gift for Christmas, baptisms, families, and new homes, symbolizing faith, divine promise, and the Incarnation. It is especially suited for prayer corners during the Nativity season.