Saint Justinian the Great reigned as Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, tens of thousands of pagans were baptized into Christ and the pagan schools of Athens were closed. Some ninety missionary churches were built to evangelize and teach the new converts. Under his direction, the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai and the Great Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople were built. In this icon, he holds the Great Church as an offering to Christ.

Saint Justinian promoted the idea of "symphonia" between the Church and State, the two working together in symphony, each in their own competent realm, for the good of society and the people. This became the model for all Orthodox monarchies which would follow. He is commemorated on November 14.