This scene contains a significant innovation in Orthodox ecclesiastical art: The depiction of God the Father. Although Byzantium would consider it inappropriate to portray God as a human being (except Christ Himself, of course), 16th century society adopted it without resistance, along with other themes seen in engravings of well-known works of the Renaissance and Mannerism.
In the Monastery's fresco, God the Father is seated on a throne held by an angel. He receives the respect and the praises of the four creatures (the angel, the eagle, the ox, and the lion), while above His head seven torches burn. A rainbow, the symbol of peace between God and humans, is placed above the torches. On the right and left sides, twenty-four elders also seated on thrones praise Him with harps and incense. God holds a book sealed with seven seals which a seven-horned lamb, symbolizing Christ, is opening. The inscription reads:
And there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
