|
An important aspect of Eastern Christianities
proclamation of the Gospel is found in its
reliance on icons. Icons are not mere pictures,
but indispensable articles in the Church's life.
In the East the goal of sacred art is more
complex than simple representation. Icons of
Christ, for example, attempt to bring out the
divine nature. For this reason the images are
idealized with supra-natural characteristics
such as large eyes, nose and hands. These
exaggerations are meant to express the union of
the two natures of Christ.
Icons have been referred to as prayers, hymns,
sermons in form and color. They are the visual
Gospel. Since the eastern understanding of the
Gospel is concerned with theosis the icons of
Christ and the Saints also share this concern.
If the icon is of Christ it reflects the reality
that God became man, the Incarnation, and
restored GodÍs image in man. Icons of the saints
show their openness to the Holy Spirit and
through the use of the same kind of
exaggerations depicts them as they are in
heaven, deified.
The Church Edifice is constructed as a "mini-
universe". The ceiling depicts heaven: on it is
an icon of Christ Pantocrator, (i.e., the
all-ruling Christ). This is symbolic of Christ
looking down from heaven upon the congregation,
hearing and receiving their prayers.
The remaining part of the ceiling and walls of
an eastern church are usually decorated with
icons that illustrate the redemption of the
world. The apostles, confessors, martyrs and
saints are pictured representing the church
triumphant.
A large icon of the Enthroned Theotokos (Kyriotissa
Icon) is usually depicted above the holy alter
on the eastern apse. The purpose of this icon is
for the worshipers to recall the Incarnation.
The Theotokos presents her Son to the
worshippers below.
The Iconostasis or icon screen separates the
nave from the altar. It symbolizes the temple
veil in the Old Testament, which separated the
Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. On
the screen are icons of Christ, Mary, and
various other saints. The top row, or "second
tier" of icons depict the major scenes in the
life of our Lord and Lady.During the service the
priest censes first the icons and then the
entire congregation. He does this because we too
are images or living icons of Christ.
Here are a some
Bibliographical Resources if you are
interested in learning more about Icons:
Alpatov, M. V.
Early Russian Icon Painting.
Moscow: 1974.
Baggley, John. Doors
of Perception. New York:
St. VladimirÍs Seminary Press, 1988.
Berrigan,
Daniel. The Bride:
Images of the Church. Maryknoll,
NY: Orbis Books, 2000.
Cavarnos,
Constantine. Byzantine
Sacred Art. Belmont, MA:
Institute for Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies,
1985.
______________. Orthodox
Iconography. Belmont,
MA: Institute for Byzantine & Modern Greek
Studies, 1977.
Evdokimov,
Paul. The Art of the
Icon: A Theology
of Beauty. Translated
by Father Steven Bigham. California: Oakwood
Publishing, 1990.
Forest,
Jim. Praying With
Icons. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Books, 1997.
Holden,
Tony. Explaining Icons.
Welshpool: Stylite
Publishing, 1985.
Mcguire,
Henry. The Icons of
Their Bodies. Saints and Their Images in
Byzantium,. Princeton,
NJ: Princeton University Press, 1996.
Miliayeva,
Luidmila. The Ukrainian
Icon. Bournemouth,
English: Parkstone Press, 1996.
Muzj, Maria
Giovanna.
Transfiguration: Introduction
to the Contemplation of Icons. Translated
by Kenneth D. Whitehead. St. Paul Book & Media,
1987.
Ness,
Solrunn. The Mystical
Language of Icon.
London: St. PaulÍs Publishing, 2000.
Nouwen,
Henri J. Behold the
Beauty of the Lord: Praying
With Icons. Notre Dame,
Ave Maria Press, 1987.
Ouspensky,
Leonid and Lossky, Vladimir. The
Meaning of Icons. New
York: St. VladimirÍs Seminary Press, 1982.
Ouspensky,
Leonid. Theology of the
Icon. New York: St.
VladimirÍs Seminary Press, 1978.
Plikon,
Jaroslav. Living Icons:
Persons of Faith in the Eastern Church.
Notre Dame, University of
Notre Dame Press, 2002.
Poqui,
Guillam Ramos. Technique
of Icon Painting.
Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishers, 1990.
Quenot,
Michael. The Icon:
Window On The
Kingdom.
Translated by a Carthusian Monk. New York:
St. Vladimir Press, 1991.
Rice, David
Talbot. Icons: Art and
Devotion. New York:
Barnes & Noble, 1996.
Sendler,
Egan. The Icon: Image
of the Invisible. Translated
by translated by Father Steven Bigham.
California: Oakwood Publishing, 1982.
Trubetskoi,
Eugene N. Icons:
Theology in Color. Translated
by Gertrude Vakar. New York: St. VladimirÍs
Press, 1973.
Weitzmann,
Kurt; Chatzidokis, Mandis; Mistov, Kristo; and
Radojcio, Svetozar. A
Treasury of Icons.
New York: Harry A. Abrams, Inc., 1966.
St. John of
Damascus. On the Divine
Image. Translated by
David Anderson. New York: St. VladimirÍs
Seminary Press, 1980.
St.
Theodore the Studite. On
the Holy Icons. Translated
by Catherine P. Roth. New York: St. VladimirÍs
Seminary Press, 1981.
Ugolnik,
Anthony. The
Illuminating Icon.
Michigan: William B. Eerdman Publishing
Company, 1989.
Vrame, Anton C.
The Educating Icon:
Teaching Wisdom and Holiness in the Orthodox
Way.
Brookline, MA, Holy Cross
Press, 1995
|
