"In former times God,
who is without form or body, could never be depicted. But now when God is
seen in the flesh conversing with humans, I make an image of the god whom I
see. I do not worship matter: I worship the Creator of matter who
became matter for my sake, who willed to take his abode in matter: who worked
out my salvation through matter. Never will I cease honouring the matter
which wrought my salvation! I honour it but not as God."
St.
John of Damascus
(8th Century)
The English term icon, which means
"likeness, image, or representation," comes from the Greek word eikon.
Iconography is an art form of Christians normally associated with both
(Byzantine) Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. It was thought to have originated in the first century A.D.
in the catacombs of Rome. However the art form did not develop to the
extent that it did as in the Eastern Roman Empire. Iconography by the end of the
fifth century, in Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor, completely supplanted
that of the Catacombs. Because Iconography was a form of religious
painting, the Iconographer was constrained to the
legislation and doctrinal prescriptions of the church at that time. Although, the
artist was confined by the church, he did have some freedom of
expression. Guillaume Durand, the famous Bishop of Mende, in the 12th century wrote: "The various histories as well of the
New as of the Old Testament are depicted according to the inclination of the
painters. For to painters as to poets a license has ever been conceded to dare
whatever they pleased." The influence of the artist's spirituality,
creativity, and church doctrine all contributed to the distinctive character
of Byzantine iconography. Icons are not intended to be an exact image, rather they are intended
to portray spiritual qualities. Heads, eyes, and central characters are
often oversized in order to enhance the spiritual image conveyed. Icons
are of utmost importance in Byzantine churches and as an aspect of Byzantine
spirituality. They have traditional locations within the church building
and these patterns were well established by 843 A.D. Holy
icons serve a number of other purposes in addition to enhancing the beauty of
churches. They also instruct us in matters pertaining to our Christian
faith, remind us of our faith, lift us up to the prototypes they symbolize,
challenge us to imitate the virtues of those depicted on them, help to transform
and sanctify us, and serve as a means of worship and veneration. Byzantine
iconography is widely used in both Byzantine Eastern Orthodox Churches as well
as the Byzantine Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, both of which share a common
ancestry.
Venerating Iconography is NOT a form of idolatry. To many faiths, both
Muslim, and Christian, any kind of picture, statue, or representation of the
human form is an abominable idol. This was a dividing belief during the history of the
Catholic Church. Iconoclasm (Eikonoklasmos,
"Image-breaking") is the name of the heresy that in the eighth and
ninth centuries disturbed the peace of the Eastern Church. Icons were
banned and destroyed, and those in possession were persecuted. Iconoclastic persecution, also extended to the Western Church.
The
earliest art forms are almost all lost because of iconoclasm, a reaction that
became a heresy and which was finally defeated by the Seventh Ecumenical Council
in Nicea in 787 A.D.. Icons are a celebration of the fact that Jesus Christ is indeed the
Word made flesh (John 1:1-14). As the 7th Ecumenical Council proclaimed:
"Icons are in colors
what the Scripture
are in words: witnesses to the Incarnation,
the fact that God has come among us
as a person whom we can see, touch
and hear, to offer us the new life
and begin the new creation."
The icon promotes a spiritual link between the human and divine. It bonds
the material to the spiritual through the senses, provided one stands before the
icon with the correct disposition of heart and mind.
A quote from St. Basil the Great:
"What the word transmits through the ear, the painting
silently shows through the image, and by these two means, mutually accompanying
one another... we receive knowledge of one and the same thing."
The Christian Faith is fully unfolded on the walls of
Byzantine
Church.
A quote from St. John of Damascus:
"If a pagan asks you to
show him your faith, take him into church and place him before the icons."
Other links pertaining to Iconography:
Byzantine Iconography - A
Brief Overview
Holy Icons
Iconoclasm
Religious Painting
St. John of Damascus
Articles
on Christian Iconography
ICONS
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