Digital Icons

  • Thread starter Thread starter Iconographer
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Fr_Ambrose said:
Here is one of our small parish churches in New Zealand.

There are two real icons on the iconscreen - the Tikhvin Mother of God and that of Christ, painted in a Canadian monastery. The rest are paper prints made from jpeg’s found on the Internet using good printing equipment. How long they will stay there before being replaced by real icons is anybody’s guess.
Click to expand...
Dear Father Ambrose,

lovely church!

this is precisely what needs to be done in such periods of transition… and since we know that nothing is more lasting than the transitory ;), let’s give thanks to God for providing such means!

Ahem… :o we would like to do something similar here in Italy! Since I see that the higher powers have granted you a time of leave from the Forum, could you please try to contact me via e-mail (I’m still having problems at sending at your usual e-mail address), so that we could arrange some iconographical consultation back and forth from the antipodes?

hmk. Ambrose the younger
 
Glory to Jesus Christ!

I suppose some clarification of my opinion is in order. I don’t have a problem with the mass produced copies that people buy. In fact that’s all I can afford myself.

I am just leery of introducing a radically new process in their original creation. Especially with digital technology, it is so prone evolve into something not at all in keeping with the tradition. I can think of a few right off the top of my head.
  • Digital segmented originals can be reused over and over again. If the artist is particularly satisfied with a certain halo or hand or eyeball the temptation is really going to be to copy and paste that element from a previous work.
  • Digital elements become intellectual property. They can be copyrighted, inherited, sold. There will also be temptation on the part of some artists to deconstruct anothers work in order to boost some elements.
  • Not the least of my concerns is that icons will begin to all look like clones each other in even the finest detail. Or that entrepreneurs will take this technology and flood the market with unworthy renditions, changing the iconographic ‘rules’ to give brand distinctions.
    I have already seen poorly done icon reproductions sold at a Roman Catholic gift shop. Some Carmelite nuns are making them and even I with no training can see the artist has ignored or forgotten important rules in a couple of them. They “look” authentic to someone who only uses them for decoration.
We already worry about Monastery Icons and their heretical background. I am convinced they are only in it for the money. What are we to do when the public completely loses the connection between the artist and the finished work? I can imagine cheaper “originals” coming out of Singapore as I type this. All we need to do is endorse these new methods of creating originals and anyone with a facility in digital technology can take it and impose their products on the market.

It’s great feeling to be a pioneer in some new thing that can seem so right, but I have a bad hunch about it. I am not implying that the OP is unworthy or has mal-intent. It’s just that I cannot endorse these methods of creating originals in good conscience.
 
Hesychios said:
We already worry about Monastery Icons and their heretical background. I am convinced they are only in it for the money.
Click to expand...
Forgive my ignorance. What is the heretical background of Monastery Icons? That they are in it for the money?
 
wynd said:
Forgive my ignorance. What is the heretical background of Monastery Icons? That they are in it for the money?
Click to expand...
Nope, not really… the fact that the very commercial-like enterprise that claims to have “acquired” the right to reproduce the Monastery Icons collection is making good business is not a great worry per se, and for sure it is not heretical.

The main concern for the Orthodox is that the collection was originally painted during the “Orthodox phase” of a very shifting group, which created a lot of conflict with its own syncretistic approach.

I believe that the real experts on fringe groups like Neil (who posts on this forum as Irish Melkite) will be able to add many details on the strange figure of Abbot George Burke and his life. Basically, this incredibly shape-shifting person (from a traditional religious persepctive), though raised in an Evangelical home, has been deeply fascinated by the traditional roots of both Christianity (Catholic and Orthodox) and Hinduism. Up to this point, his story could have been similar to that of many other seekers, but he actually managed to cross many times the borderline among the two religions, being a Yoga practicioner, Orthodox novice monk, independent Old Catholic bishop and abbot, Gnostic “patriarch”, and now leader of an ashram in Borrego Springs, CA.

Add his personal interests in alternative therapies, affiliations with Masonic obediences and the like, and you will easily conclude that he is too much of a boiling potato to rest easily in any religious milieu! Perhaps the group’s current Hindu allegiance best suits George Burke’s inclusivistic character (today, his religious name is Swami Nirmalananda… but please watch out for his next change of spiritual outlook! 😉 )

To get back to the icons, the original collection was painted over a period of time (late 80s and early 90s, if I remember correctly), when the group was living in Nebraska (and following more or less a Gnosticized form of Oriental Orthodox spirituality), by the (then) hierodeacon Simeon Goldstein (a talented painter, we should reckon). One of the Orthodox priests who best knew the group, Fr. Anthony Nelson of ROCOR, supplied me with many details of the almost excessive care with which Abbot George directed the painting of these icons, which had to follow the models of the neo-Byzantine school of Photios Kontoglou (one of the most renowned Greek iconologists and iconographers of the Byzantine revival of the 20th century). Abbot George had been a novice at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery of Boston (then under ROCOR), and is generally acknowledged as having a good grounding in Eastern Orthodox iconography.

The Kontoglou model, and a uniformity with good traditional details, are certainly the reason why the Monastery Icons collection is appreciated far and wide (maybe by novices to Orthodox iconography… those who know better usually tend to prefer more authentic sources); the greatest concern is the underlying faith (relativistic and syncretistic) with which the whole collection was created.

The main Orthodox icon sellers in America were initially quite baffled by the reactions to a seemingly innocent collection of modern icons, but on the while stopped publicizing and selling them. This may account for the fact that soon the more traditionally Orthodox models of the collection were flanked by clear Latinizations (i.e. Byzantine-stile Sacred Hearts), and many Eastern-looking depictions of post-schism RC saints. Evidently, Abbot George sensed that the Catholics would pose less problems in buying these items.

A question mark is still pending on whether the current head of Monastery Icons is actually still George Burke, operating under the cover of a commercial firm, or whether he has cut all links with his former religious output. One may wonder, if the former hypothesis is true, why should Christians be induced to buy a lot of icon reproductions just to finance a Hindu ashram in California.

Looks like icons have many stories to tell us, ain’t it? 🙂
 
Iconographer said:
First and foremost I’m referring to writing an icon through months and months of prayer and fasting, meditation and contemplation, etc. by electronic means (using Adobe Illustrator or suitable instruments), but not stopping there.

I’ve been working on one such icon for six months now. Soon I will be printing it out, then working with it on multi-layered board or wood, combining gold leaf and possibly bronze leaf to create an icon of “Christ the Lifegiver.” I will frame it when it’s finished in a non-glare glass, so as to not seperate the venerator from the icon. Possible I won’t even frame it, we will see.

God gives us all gifts and we should use those gifts with complete openess to his Will. This type of icon is what I feel called to do at the moment.

I agree 100%, but I don’t agree with where you went from there Hesychios. Yes, an iconographer pours his heart and soul into an icon, and that shouldn’t be limited to the ingredients, in fact… it isn’t. We cannot put a limit on our emotions because they rest in God. We shouldn’t put boundaries on God’s “windows” either.
Click to expand...
Beautiful!

Has not everyone on this site at one time or another (or often) prayed with a mouse in his hand – the digital kind, that is?
 
Glory to Jesus Christ!
wynd said:
Forgive my ignorance. What is the heretical background of Monastery Icons?
Click to expand...
I dug up some more info which correlates well with what Padre Ambrogio has posted above. This is two posts by our own Prodromos from way back 🙂 on this site almost two years ago.

post 7
post 8

Prodromos article concludes with a quote from the author stating “Please don’t buy their pictures they are spiritually very dangerous.”

And a response I got just today from a well know Greek Catholic priest in Eire, Archimandrite Serge Keleher…

"They are not Christians, and their pseudo-icons are not Christian either. Have thou ** nothing ** to do with these people, and if you have any of their products burn them or bury them.

Father Serge"

Refreshingly, we have found something about which Catholics and Orthodox can be in total agreement!
 
Padre Ambrogio, dear friend,

Bless, Abouna. You’ve done a rather excellent job of explaining Abbott George Burke (his surname is a family name for me, on my mother’s side; one hopes we’re not related, although Burkes are so numerous as to instill hope that it’s only coincidence).

Michael, my brother,

I saw your post regarding this over at ByzCath tonight and wondered if the topic had arisen here. Our friend John’s earlier posts on the matter are excellent, as are the comments by our spiritual fathers, Ambrogio and Serge.

I did a quick search over at ByzCath (the verdict is still out on the new format and the search function over there 😃 ) and found the thread for which I believe you were looking. It was a couple of months ago and I had done some research after someone asked:
I wonder if these products are still being produced by “heretical” religious. Nowhere in the current catalog from Monastery Icons is there mention of the “Gnostic Orthodox” monastics that used to make these icons as a means of support.
Click to expand...
Instead the catalog (and this is confirmed on Monastery Icons web site - see: monasteryicons.com/info/index.hzml ) states that the rights to the images were recently acquired by some group called the Sacred Arts Foundation, which is headquartered in Missouri. Also, the catalog outlet is listed as being in West Chester, OH. Is the “monastic” group that started this now defunct? Does anyone know the story?
Click to expand...
I was able to come up with some new, up-to-date info regarding the inter-relationships among the parties. (I’m sure John will find this of special interest, as I know that he makes a point of keeping folks aware of Momastery Icons.)

Irish Melkite said:
** 2005 Annual Report - Sacred Arts Foundation** State of Missouri - Secretary of State’s Office filing shows that the principal place of business is 1482 Rango Way, Borrego Springs, CA. The Foundation has only a registered agent in MO, which is a great place to incorporate, as the fees are dirt-cheap.

The officers include William Burke - the former Abbott of the infamous Gnostic Orthodox Monastery.

1482 Rango Way, Borrego Springs, CA, btw, is the locale of ** Atma Jyoti Ashram** , “a spiritual institution devoted to the practice and teaching of Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal Religion, as found in the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.” This is Abbott Burke’s latest religious venture.

It would appear that one corporate entity, as it was being phased out, sold its assets to the new corporate venture - essentially mirrors of one another in regard to governance, differing chiefly in ecclesiology.
Click to expand...

Note that William was Abbott George’s name prior to his entry into the religious life.

Many years,

Neil
 
Hesychios said:
And a response I got just today from a well know Greek Catholic priest in Eire, Archimandrite Serge Keleher…

"They are not Christians, and their pseudo-icons are not Christian either. Have thou ** nothing ** to do with these people, and if you have any of their products burn them or bury them.

Father Serge"

Refreshingly, we have found something about which Catholics and Orthodox can be in total agreement!
Click to expand...
:hmmm: risky advice from Father Serge, since they do sell incense (which is supposed to be burnt) and outdoor shrines (which are supposed - at least for a part - to be buried)! 😛

On a more serious note, thanks to Neil for outlining that the Sacred Art Foundation is still in the hands of Abbott/Swami George/William/Nirmalananda Burke (seems he didn’t change his family name, that is, the only item that Neil would have liked to disappear from his curriculum… our deepest regret and sympathy, Neil :o ). Of course, running an icon and church supply shop from a Hindu ashram strikes many as a strange form of spiritual transvestitism.

Having said so, I would question the whole idea of crusading against Monastery Icons. I would not buy from them, but I would certainly not destroy anything from them, too (please take note that they are also importing genuine Orthodox items from Greece and Russia). Rather than saying that the icons are not Christian (an assertion that would provoke endless debate), I find it rather more effective to state that many of their products are sold at outrageously high prices, and that - for a lower fee - Orthodox suppliers are usually able to come up with items of better quality.

The whole idea of implying that the items are “spiritually dangerous” is a huge concession to the perceived power of the group as a satanic cult. This is an instance in which I kindly disagree with my Orthodox brother Father Anthony Nelson. The key issue, to my eyes, is not their purported “demonic worship”, but rather their syncretism. This should be the point to address with the utmost care.

But if we happen to find one of their items in one of our churches, we could rest safely, knowing that they were made from Christian models, and that the grace of Christ working throug his holy Church may easily “redeem” them, just as the Church was able to Christianize many aspects of Paganism that were not in conrast with Christ’s teachings.

Let’s be aware of being carried on in diatribes on how these icons are “not Christian”. If Burke and his followers borrow something (like statues or mandalas) from the Hindu tradition, should we end up saying that they are not true Hindu items? I would think that we would end up in creating a lot of unnecessary sympathy for the group.

If we could try to see the Monastery Icons collection as a short-lived fringe phenomenon, we could perhaps also try to evaluate its positive results. I wonder how many RCs were prompted to have a closer look at Eastern iconography just because they saw for the very first time a “Byzantine” portrait of their favourite saint…
 
I can imagine something really bad like “Adobe icon creator suite” where you drag and drop little Jesus and Mary figures onto a picture and select from a palette of halos. But I don’t know that digital has to be as banal as that. I guess people have always been able to create bad icons. Perhaps the starter of this thread can tell us how he uses digital.
 
40.png
Iconographer:
The question I present is what the faithful out there think of the idea of digital iconography. In other words, religious Icons constructed through proper pray using digital art programs like Adobe Illustrator and others.
Click to expand...
Dear Iconographer,

I’m a little late chiming in on this thread, but I was curious to know if you found any examples of “digital iconography” on-line.
I’ve been working on one such icon for six months now. Soon I will be printing it out, then working with it on multi-layered board or wood, combining gold leaf and possibly bronze leaf to create an icon of “Christ the Lifegiver.”
Click to expand...
I would be most interested in seeing your icon. If possible, could you please PM me when you’ve finished your work.
 
Hi everyone… lots of posts in this thread! It took me a little while to catch up 😉 Now, to get to the topic at hand…

I use Illustrator as my medium for writing the icon I’ve been working on for more than six months. The program is a vector art program that allows me to draw lines in every possible angle and formation. And so, when I create an image, say… a simple cartoon flower in Illustrator, I’m actually drawing probably a hundred lines for something as simple as that. Then I go in and draw new areas for shading, etc. It’s complex and takes quite the trained professional to get it right. On that note, I have a Masters in Art Direction.

As for seeing the icon once it’s finished. I’d love to show it, though I will not simply put a screen shot of it up because that’s not what it’s meant for. The icon will be printed out, then mounted on wood. Gold leaf (I’m also considering using a bit of bronze leaf as well) will be added for various areas, etc. Whichever way prayer leads me is the way I shall go. Once it’s complete, I will take some photographs and post them here. I’d like to complete the icon by the end of the year, but as we all know, our time really isn’t ours, it’s God’s. So when He has decided it is done, it will be done.

I’ve wrestled with the idea of it being done before, but in prayer and discussion with others I find it to not be so. It will take time and discernment of course. Pax Christi.
 
Where the technique might be truly useful is in ‘restoring’ (photographs of) icons which are clearly damaged, with a view to printing copies for those that mount and market printed icons or pages cut out of books; not everyone can afford to buy a ‘real’ icon and many rely on printed versions.
 
rowlands said:
Where the technique might be truly useful is in ‘restoring’ (photographs of) icons which are clearly damaged, with a view to printing copies for those that mount and market printed icons or pages cut out of books; not everyone can afford to buy a ‘real’ icon and many rely on printed versions.
Click to expand...
Wow, this is an old thread! I retouched this photo of St. Raphael of Brooklyn… I’m working on the Mt. Saini Icon of Christ Pantocrator now…

Before…



After…

 
I am one!

……………………,-~’’’¯¯¯’’~-,
…………………,-‘’ ; ; ;,—,_ ; ;’’-,………………………………,—,
……………….,’ ; ; ;,-‘ , , , , , ‘-, ; ;’-,—’’’’’’~–,……,-~’’ ; ; ; ;;’-,
……………….| ; ; ;,’ , , , ,-~’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ¯’’~’-, ,-~’’ , , ‘, ;’,
……………….’, ; ; ‘-, ,-~’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’-, , , , , ,’ ; |
…………………’, ; ;,’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’-, , ,-‘ ;,-‘
………………….,’-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’-‘ ;,-‘
…………………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘-,’
………………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘’¯: : ’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; _ ; ; ; ; ;’,
………………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;| : : : : : 😑 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘’¯: ¯’’-, ; ; ;’,
…………….,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘-,: : ,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; | : : : : : 😑 ; ; ; |
……………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ¯¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’-, : :,-‘ ; ; ; ;|
……………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-~’’ , , , , ,--, , , , _ ; ; ;¯¯ ; ; ; ; ;|
……………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’ , , , , , , ,( : : : : ) , , , ,’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;|
……….,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’, , , , , , , , ,’~—~’’ , , , , , ,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’,
…….,-‘’ ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘’~-,–~~’’’¯’’’~-, , ,,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘,
….,-‘’-~’’,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; | ; ; | . . . . . . ,’; ,’’¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ‘-,
……….,’ ; ;,-, ; ;, ; ; ;, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘, ; ;’, . . . . .,’ ;,’ ; ; ; ;, ; ; ;,’-, ; ;,’ ‘’~–‘’’
………,’-~’ ,-‘-~’’ ‘, ,-‘ ‘, ,- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘, ; ; ‘~-,-‘’ ; ,’ ; ; ; ; ‘, ;,-‘’ ; ‘, ,-‘,
……….,-‘’ ; ; ; ; ; ‘’ ; ; ;’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘’-,_ ; ; ; ,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ;’-‘’ ; ; ; ‘’ ; ;’-,
………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;¯¯’’¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’-,
……,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; |, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘-,
……,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;|…’-, ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ‘,
….,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; | ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’…….’’’,-~’ ; ; ; ; ; ,’
…,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’~-,–’’’’’’~-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’……,-~’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-
…| ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’…,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘
…’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,’….’, ; ; ; ; _,-‘’
….’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’…….’’’’¯
……’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘
………’’~-, ; ; ; ; ,-~’’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘
…………| ; ; ;¯¯’’’’¯ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘
…………’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘
…………| ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;|
…………’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ~-,__ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’,
………….’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘….’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘,
…………,’ ‘- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘’……….’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘,
……….,’ ; ;’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘…………….’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’,
………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘’…………………’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; |
………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,-‘………………………’’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; |
………| ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’…………………………,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;,’
………| ; ; ; ; ; ; ,’…………………………,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,’’
………| ; ; ; ; ; ;,’……………………….,-‘ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘
………’,_ , ; , ;,’……………………….,’ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,-‘
………’,’,¯,’,’’|……………………….| ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘–,
………….¯…’’…………………………’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’~,
……………………………………………’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;’’~-,
…………………………………………………’’-, ; ; ; ; ; ,_ ; ;’-,’’-,
……………………………………………………’, ; ; ; ; ; ; ‘-,__,\–\.
……………………………………………………’-, ; ; ;,-~’’’ \ , ,|, |
………………………………………………………’’~-‘’_ , , ,’,_/–‘
 
Padre_Ambrogio said:
If we could try to see the Monastery Icons collection as a short-lived fringe phenomenon, we could perhaps also try to evaluate its positive results. I wonder how many RCs were prompted to have a closer look at Eastern iconography just because they saw for the very first time a “Byzantine” portrait of their favourite saint…
Click to expand...
This was the case for me. My parents bought each of us children a Monastery Icon diptych of Mary with the infant Jesus and Christ the Teacher.

I still own mine; I often open it while studying so that my stray glances can look at our Lord instead of the carpet. In light of everything that’s been said on this thread about Monastery Icons (none of which I knew), should I keep this icon?

And finally: Iconographer (if you’re still active), is the digital icon finished?
 
medicalmatins said:
This was the case for me. My parents bought each of us children a Monastery Icon diptych of Mary with the infant Jesus and Christ the Teacher.

I still own mine; I often open it while studying so that my stray glances can look at our Lord instead of the carpet. In light of everything that’s been said on this thread about Monastery Icons (none of which I knew), should I keep this icon?

And finally: Iconographer (if you’re still active), is the digital icon finished?
Click to expand...
Talk to a priest, if its from Monastery Icons, I think you should have an exorcism done on it.
 
John_of_Patmos said:
Talk to a priest, if its from Monastery Icons, I think you should have an exorcism done on it.
Click to expand...
Exorcism is used with people not things.

It could be blessed. From Fr. John Hardon Modern Catholic Dictionary:

BLESSING. As found in Scripture, it means praise, the desire that good fortune go with a person or thing, dedication of a person or thing to God’s service and a gift. In liturgical language a blessing is a ritual ceremony by which an authorized cleric in major orders sanctifies persons or things to divine service, or invokes divine favor on what he blesses. The Church’s ritual provides for over two hundred such blessings, some of which are reserved to bishops or members of certain religious institutes.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top