The icon of Saint John the Baptist is placed in the Katholikon of the Dionysiou Monastery. It is characterized as "old" because it existed in the monastery before the great fire of 1535. The devastating fire left the icon of Saint John untouched. Its grace elevated it to a great pilgrimage site. Besides, the icon was also honoured for the healing of Constantine, the son of the ruler Alexander.
As for the depiction of the Saint, he appears frontally, turning his gaze directly towards the faithful. His stern yet gentle gaze permeates the image. The color choices of the garments are relatively vivid. A green cloak with strong folds is wrapped around him, from which his right hand, with which he is blessing the faithful, remains uncovered. In his left hand he holds an open scroll, his severed head and a rod that ends in a cross. The two halos, the rod and the wings of the saint are covered by a relief. The elaborate shapes and plumes add light to the image and highlight the care with which it was crafted. Particularly regarding the wings, they are a detail that renders visual the phrase “Behold, I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" (Mark 1:2).
The depiction of the Holy Baptist as an angel of the desert was not always common. It was established in the post-Byzantine period and was widely adopted, as it perfectly portrayed the personification of the Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist.
