The Ascension
Above His head is a portrayal of the Ascension: Christ emerging from a red circle, holding a golden cross which is now His sceptre. A host of angels welcome him into heaven, while at the very top of this scene the right hand of God the Father is extended in benediction. Beneath this scene is the Latin inscription described in the Gospels: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
Angels
Around the crossbar of the cross we see a company of holy angels, looking in awe upon the Divine Sacrifice. Their hand gestures indicate their animated discussion of this wondrous event.
Side Figures
To the left of the central figure of Christ at the foot of the cross stand the Holy Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist stand at the foot of the cross - "His Mother and the disciple whom He loved." To the right stand Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Mary Cleophas, and the Centurion. The Centurion holds a piece of wood, indicating his building of the synagogue (Luke 7:1-10); the little boy behind him is his son, healed by Jesus. In the lower right- and lefthand corners of this seen are small figures of the Roman soldier Longinus and and the Jewish temple guard Stephaton - one holding the lance that pierced the Savior's side, and the other holding a stick with a vinegar-soaked sponge.
Rooster
Near the border of the Cross on the right, just below the level of Christ's knees, you will find a small rooster. This recalls the denial of Peter, who wept bitterly, and reminds us that we should not be presumptuous of the strength of our faith.
Saints at the Foot of the Cross
At the very bottom of the Cross the original artist depicted several saints. Their visages in the original cross were damaged over the centuries and are now unrecognizable. In this recreation of the icon by Monastery Icons, the iconographer has chosen to identify and depict these saints as the four most beloved saints of the Franciscan Order: Saint Francis, Saint Clare, Saint Anthony of Padua, and Saint Bonaventure
