An article for C153, check out www.stpeteronline.com

Icons : Created in the image of God

Iconography has long been a tradition in the Catholic church and predominantly by our Orthodox Christian brethrens. It can be said that in context, Icons are not in anyway, isolated in liturgy, theology, architecture and music but rather supplements and enhances our worship. While Liturgical music is done with words set in music, icons preach theology in pictures.

Our Faith is always confronted with the disposition that we worship graven images and sometimes, we even question ourselves believing that we are. Our early church fathers have a clear understanding of proskynesis (veneration such as bowing down) and latreia (Absolute worship). For catholics, Worship belongs to God alone and Icons, we venerate. The argument can be traced back from the old testament that prohibits worshipping any image of God. No one has ever seen God. But with the advent of the Incarnation, that’s where the confusion stops. Christ becomes the icon of an Invisible God. In the New Testament, the apostles were privileged to see the face of God. The Lord even called them blessed saying “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Historically, the say that Veronica (the one who imprinted the face of Jesus in her veil) did not exist but what she represents is Vera Icona (the True Image).

Icons are said to be written and read. They are not simply holy pictures, in fact it does not portray physical reality. What it represents is the TRUTH. We are reminded that the order of nature is overthrown like a burning bush that is not consumed or a virgin giving birth but remained a Virgin. The image represented is often time disfigured (Eyes too large or the nose too long) so that the reader will be reminded to go beyond what is being looked at. It represents a transfigured image of the one portrayed. Another technique used in writing icons is inverse perspective. Normal perspective, would usually draw him inside the painting as he stares at a vanishing point. But with Icons, in effect, the image is looking at us with the vanishing point in the plane of the onlooker. Pigments are applied from dark to light, as if to reflect the pilgrimage of the writer of his spiritual journey. Icons do not have shadows thus giving off only light. Symbology also plays a part in the composition. Colors, poses and inscriptions have full meaning and the faithful are encouraged to study them to understand the Theology behind it.

These Divine images are our bridge between heaven and earth. We are also reminded that there is a continuing dispensation of salvation, by the entry of the Holy Spirit into created matter. We can also be called Icons for we are created in the Image and likeness of God.

Resource:
Catholicism for Dummies
www.newadvent.org
www.antiochian.org