The uppermost panel of this icon depicts the 'Exaltation of the Holy Cross' by a venerable gathering of members of the Orthodox Church, each wearing beautiful vestments. In the upper left panel Christ greets His disciples following the resurrection. This is naturally followed by His ascension as He lifts upwards on a cloud, while His disciples watch from below. Then comes the 'Dormition' of the Virgin Mary, seen at the moment of death before her soul rises to heaven. The final panel shows the 'Hospitality of Abraham' when God appeared to him in the form of three angels, (the Holy Trinity), and he offered his guests food and drink. Such scenes of spiritual events were made more 'real' and more personal through their depiction in dramatic form on icons, bringing the viewer even closer to the faith.