Anastasis Icons

Basic Info

The Acts of the Apostles (2:27–31) and the First Letter of Peter (3:18–19) make oblique reference to Jesus’ descending into hell to release the already dead from their bondage. The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed assert that Jesus descended into hell; this has been an article of Christian faith since the very early days. Anastasis icons reflect that important theological aspect of the Resurrection—that Jesus freed the righteous who had been trapped in the underworld. This event is also called the Harrowing (breaking up) of Hell.

Anastasis icons usually follow the same traditional iconography. The resurrected Jesus Christ is depicted surrounded by a mandorla, wearing white, sometimes holding a cross, and standing on the broken gates of hell. He is usually reaching a hand toward the figure of Adam and sometimes his other hand toward Eve, helping them to step up from hell into their new life with him. Often other Old Testament figures are depicted climbing up behind Adam and Eve. Sometimes demons are shown writhing below the broken gates of hell. The broken gates are usually shown as two panels crossed—a reflection of the power of the Crucifixion.

What to Look For

• Jesus (expression, attitude, garments, mandorla, halo, etc.)
• Who is emerging from hell (Adam, Eve, Moses, David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.)
• The expressions / attitudes of those emerging from hell
• The broken gates of hell (crossed or not)
• Details of hell (demons, dark, cavelike, etc.)

Questions to Focus a General Interpretation

According to Christian theology, these people have been waiting in hell for this release for a long time. How does the artwork depict their responding to this new life or to the Christ, who made this new life possible?

According to Christian theology, this is the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s mission, his love for human beings. What attitude or emotion is Jesus depicted with in the artwork (loving, aloof, happy, respectful, etc.)?

Questions to Guide a Personal Interpretation

Sometimes we create our own mini-hells with our thoughts and expectations. Can you imagine Jesus Christ’s breaking the gates of your little hell as he has broken them in this artwork? Can you imagine the freedom of a new life that the Old Testament figures are expressing in this artwork as they emerge from hell?

Do you think of hell as a physical place, such as that depicted in this artwork? If so, is your mental image similar to this one? If not, what might symbolize eternal separation from God for you?

Questions to Suggest a Historical Interpretation



Icons tend not to vary much in composition from generation to generation. That being said, there are sometimes differences in which figures from the Old Testament are emerging from hell. Try to identify the characters portrayed and then think about why they might have been especially popular in the artist’s time and place.