God the Father is the venerable old white-bearded man on the right. Painting Him in the form of a man was condemned by the Seventh Ecumenical Council and forbidden by the Council of Moscow in 1666.
The eight-pointed design in his halo (the eighth point hidden by his head) symbolizes the six days of Creation, the seventh day on which God rested, and the eighth day, the Day of Eternity.
Christ is seated beside the Father, holding the Gospels.
"His distinctive halo has the beams of the cross inscribed with the Greek letters Omicron Omega-Nu, spelling HO ON, ""Who Is,"" the Greek form of the name of God translated in the King James Version as ""I Am That I Am."""
Between Christ and God the Father is a starry globe symbolizing the cosmos. The cross, spear, and sponge on a reed recall the Crucifixion of Christ.
"Above them the Holy Spirit appears as a dove in an eight-pointed halo called a slava, meaning ""glory""."
"Many contemporary Orthodox (like some earlier theologians) consider the depiction of the Holy Spirit as a dove inappropriate in any icon except that of the ""Theophany"" the Baptism of Christ. "
The biblical account justifies it only in that instance. Nonetheless the dove set in an eight-pointed star has been widespread in Russian iconography for centuries and remains in common use today.
At left of the surrounding ring is Mary, called the Mother of God. At right is John the Forerunner (Baptist). The ring is filled with six-winged Seraphim. In the four points of the star are the symbols of the Four Evangelist.
The angel is St. Matthew, the winged lion St. John, the eagle is St. Mark, and the winged ox is St. Luke. Sometimes, however, the Western system is followed.
The lion then becomes St. Mark and the eagle St. John. Inscriptions usually indicate which system is used.
"The winged fiery wheels beneath the feet of the Trinity are a rank of angel called ""Thrones."""
"The ""Powers"" among which the Trinity is set are the ranks of angels as listed in The Celestial Hierarchy of (Pseudo-) Dionysius the Areopagite."
"A large and complex icon. At center ""The New Testament Trinity"" encircled within a ring filled with Seraphim. There are Cherubim at the side and between Christ and God the Father . "
At the left stands the Mother of God and at the right stands John the Baptist. The symbols of the four Evangelist are on the corner of the ring.
The Archangels surround the ring and lengthy inscriptions on the borders identify the attributes of each angel.
The outside corners are decorated with family Saints John, Pelagia, Konstantine and Helen. Both Christ and God the Father bless with fingers held in the position favored by the old believers.
Fantastic detail and brilliance.