Harrowing of Hades (Chora) Resurrection Icon - F138

The Harrowing of Hades is the icon most often used to represent the Resurrection of Christ: the Feast of Feasts, Pascha (Easter). In this scene, Christ is seen coming out of the dark pit of Hades, bringing with Him all of the righteous Old Testament saints. The Lord is pulling Adam and Eve out, having smashed the gates that kept them captive. This is the great and universal triumph of life over death, light over darkness. It is an exact depiction of the Orthodox paschal hymn, "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!"

This fresco is one of the most famous depictions of the paschal scene, painted in the apse of the funeral chapel of the Church of the Holy Savior in the Country (usually known simply as Chora), outside the walls of Constantinople.