1. Question of the Day
List 3-4 reasons that people might light a candle in a Church?
(Above: People light candles in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem)

2. Christianity in Russian Culture
An Introduction to Icons in Russian Culture

3. Russia

4. Christianity comes to Russia
City of Kiev became the center of the first Russian state – blended with Varangians (Vikings)
Olga, Princess of Kiev, converted to Byzantine Christianity in 957
Her Grandson, Vladimir, would also convert to Byzantine Christianity which made the religion popular throughout Russia

5. Christianity is in Russia
Russian rulers, like the Byzantine Emperors, control the Russian Orthodox Church which means……
Russian rulers would use the Church as a way to extend their power over the people
“ As one obeys the Church one should also obey the Prince/Czar”

6. Religious Power: East vs. West
In Western Europe, Monarchs and the Pope constantly battled for religious and/or political power
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Emperor/Czar controlled the Church
In the East the power of the Emperor/Czar was second only to God

7. Icons Icons are defined most simply as holy images
Every Russian family would receive a special icon for milestone life events and family traditions such as:
Baptisms, marriages and the family’s patron saint
Every Russian home had an entire room devoted to their Icons
Icons were also a way to explain Bible stories to illiterate Russian serfs
Orthodox Christians believe that the homes of believers are a type of Church

8. “Icon corners” existed in the homes of the rich and the poor

9. Old Testament Trinity by Andrei Rublev
Rublev painted the old testament story of 3 Angels visiting Abraham
He removed Abraham from the icon but kept the Angels
In this way, he could explain the concept of one God in three bodies
Both the literate and illiterate could understand icons
Other popular icons which also relate to Bible stories are…

10. Image Not Made By Hands This was the first icon made
This icon refers to the story of an ancient King of Edessa
The King suffered from Leprosy
According to the story, the King was healed when a cloth, which Jesus had dried his own face with, and bore the image of Jesus, was pressed to the King’s face

11. Each Russian town had its own “Mother of God” Icon, honoring Mary

12. St. Nicholas St. Nicholas is a very important Saint in Russia
He is believed to be the protector of sailors
He is believed to have enjoyed giving gifts to children, especially the poor; that is the basis for Santa Claus

13. Three handed Mother of God
Iconoclasm is the act of attacking or destroying icons
An iconoclast is a person who attacks or destroys icons
In the 700’s a Byzantine Emperor outlawed Icons
St. John of Damascus continued to encourage people to pray to icons
In retaliation, the Emperor ordered that John’s hand be cut off
After praying to a Mother of God icon, John’s hand was healed
In order to thank God for this miracle St. John fashioned a third hand onto the mother of God icon

14. Visual Thinking Skill Question of the Day
In the next slide, examine the Russian Painting “The Sick Man” by Vasili Maximov (1881)
What is the woman doing in the painting?
Why might she be doing this?
What might this image reveal about the place that icons held in Russian culture?

16. The Power of Icons?
Russian Christians believed that icons were a spiritual doorway
The icons themselves held a power which could grant the grace of God to a person’s life
In our world today, what might be considered icon type entities?
Consider any entities which people might consider to be “supernatural”

17. Sources http://www.holycrossmedford.org/our_church_and_iconography.htm