1. Icons 101

2. Some Questions:
What is an icon?
Where do they come from?
What are they used for?
How do you look at them?
What do you see in them?

3. What is an icon? In everyday usage,
Computer button Sports logo Person

4. A (religious) icon is a holy image
• Jesus • Mother of God • a holy person (saint) • story from Old or New testament • stories from nonbiblical tradition (or legend) • feasts of the church

5. Virgin of Vladimir, 12th century

6. Saint Nicholas

7. Nativity of Christ, Andrei Rublev, 1405 AD

8. Transfiguration – 12th c., St. Catherine Monastery, Sinai Desert

9. The Dormition

10. Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 20th century

11. “Not Made By Hands”

12. Where do they come from? Holy Land a Byzantine Empire a Russia a West iconoclasm Bolshevism

13. Conventions for Representation Ensure Consistency Over Time
6th century th century th century
Conventions for Representation
Ensure Consistency Over Time

14. What are they used for? • Proclaiming the Gospel • Personal Devotion • Liturgical Services

15. How do you look at icons? How do you understand icons?

16. Halo extends into frame Influence extends beyond heaven into the world
Icons contain “clues”
Halo extends into frame Influence extends beyond heaven into the world

17. Cross in his halo Only Jesus has it
Icons contain “clues”
Cross in his halo Only Jesus has it

18. an abbreviation for Ιησούς Χριστός Jesus the Christ
Icons contain “clues”
IC XC
an abbreviation for Ιησούς Χριστός Jesus the Christ

19. “Tell them I AM sent you”
Icons contain “clues” A
I M
= I AM
(literally, He who is)
“Tell them I AM sent you”
Jesus is God

20. Icons contain “clues”
ο Παντοκράτορας
Pantocrator
Lord of the universe

21. Icons contain “clues” Colors Gold background = Heavenly light Red robe
= Jesus’ humanity
Blue cloak
= Jesus’ divinity

22. Icons contain “clues”
Gesture of blessing
(image reversed) I C X

23. an abbreviation for ΜETER QEOU Icons contain “clues” MP ΘΥ
Mother of God

24. Stars on shoulders and forehead
Icons contain “clues”
Stars on shoulders and forehead
= Mary’s perpetual virginity

25. Icons contain “clues”
Purple robe
Gold trim
= royalty

26. The Iconostasis — a Vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem

27. An icon beckons the viewer through its plane into the divine light
It is a window into heaven