Epitaph of Emperor John Kantakouzenos, circa 1354

The epitaph is of a functional type, embroidered on a light blue all-silk fabric with fine thread, and in some places with wheat-colored, orange, black or red silk. The stitches used are the crotch, the straight and the dense root. It is decorated with the dead Christ, dressed in a single loincloth, on which His hands rest crossed. In the four corners of the Epitaph are an equal number of busts of angel-deacons, holding fantails. The faces present the nobility of ideal figures, while the postures of the angels emphasize the functional character of the scene. The diligent execution of the design is mainly evident in the naked parts of the figures, where the impression of a smooth surface is given. The plain of the vestment is decorated, like many of the gold-embroidered works of the 13th and 14th centuries, with crosses of various sizes, placed within various geometric shapes, or joined with acanthus half-leaves. Below the feet of Christ is the votive inscription of the epitaph, from which we are informed that it was a donation of the learned emperor John VI Kantakouzenos to the Vatopedi Monastery.