The Apse Mosaic at Cefalù Cathedral: Detail, The Virgin Orant with Angels

1145-70
Mosaic
Cathedral of the Transfiguration, Cefalù, Sicily

The area of the apse shown here is directly below the great Christ Pantocrator. In the center the Virgin Mary is portrayed in orant pose. The words left and right of her head are Greek for "Mother of God." The figures her are archangels, as signified by their halos and sceptres. They are labeled with their names in Greek (left to right): Saint Raphael, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, Saint Uriel.

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Read more about portraits of the Virgin Mary, St. Raphael, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Uriel.

Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.