1. The Language of Iconography
Discipleship Class

2. A defense of icons Read Exodus 20:4-5
Defend the Orthodox Church’s use of icons in its faith and spirituality

3. What is a “graven image?”
The Hebrew word translated “graven image” means literally “an idol.”
A graven image is an image carved out of stone, wood, or metal. It could be a statue of a person or animal, or a relief carving in a wall or pole.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them.” Likely, this refers back to the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” and specifically forbids the creation of idols.

4. “Icons” in the Temple On the Ark: Ex. 25:18
On the Curtains of the Tabernacle: Ex. 26:1
On the Veil of the Holy of Holies: Ex. 26:31
Two huge Cherubim in the Sanctuary: 1 Kings 6:23
On the Walls: 1 Kings 6:29
On the Doors: 1 Kings 6:32
And on the furnishings:1 Kings 7:29,36

5. The word “icon” is derived from the Greek word “eikon” which means image.
"Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; " [Genesis 1:26-27].
"He is the image of the invisible God" [Col 1:15].

6. Iconoclast movement – 8th century
Many converts coming from pagan backgrounds
Roots in many anti-Christian sources
Islam (ordering destruction of all Christian images)
Monophysite origins
Nestorianism
Roman (Byzantine) Emperor, Leo III, put forth a series of official decrees in opposition to icons.  Officially, it was in the year 726 that Leo III introduced “iconoclasm.”

7. Iconoclast movement – 8th century
Defenders of Icons – St. John of Damascus, St. Theodore the Studite
"I represent God, the Invisible One, not as invisible, but insofar as he has become visible for us by participation in flesh and blood. If we made an image of the invisible God, we would certainly be in error, but we do nothing of the sort; for we are not in error if we make the image of the incarnate God, who appeared on earth in the flesh, and who, in His ineffable goodness, lived with human beings and assumed the nature, the thickness, the shape and the color of the flesh." St. John of Damascus
Matter sanctified by the Incarnation.

8. Presence and Intercession of saints

9. Presence and Intercession of saints
2 Kings 13:20,21: man raised to life by coming in contact with the bones of Elisha
Acts 5:15: Shadow of St. Peter
Acts 19:11,12: St. Paul’s handkerchiefs
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Rev. 5:8)
Story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31)

10. Presence and Intercession of saints
31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. (Matthew 22:31-33)

11. Major features of coptic iconography
Iconographer must live a healthy spiritual life and be theologically sound
(fasting and prayer)
Icons are not drawn or painted but they are written.
Most did not sign their names

13. HALO – Expression of Light from “within”

14. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image [icon] from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3:18)
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

15. General features Facing forward Background should be gold
Large and wide eyes
Large ears
Large head
Small nose
Small mouth, gentle lips: “And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.” (Psalm 63:5)
Must have the name of the saint written

17. Meaning of colors Red: glory, honor, rich, sacrifice
White: purity, divinity
Pale/dark green: sin, and evil
Blue: heaven/heavenly
Brown: ground/dust (humility)

18. “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” (Isaiah 1:3)

20. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matt. 3:10)

26. Some clarifications
We venerate the icon but we do not worship the icon itself.
Why are icons anointed with “holy mayroun”?
Why does the priest offer incense?
Why are icons 2 dimensional vs 3 dimensional?
Who was the first iconographer?

27. The saints are real
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3)
“Whenever we stand in your holy sanctuary, we are counted as standing in heaven…” (3rd hour litany)
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:16, 17)
The church is “above time”