Icons

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scapularkid8

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I love them. A few questions though. One, why do Eastern Catholics pray in front of them? Two, how can you use them in prayer. Three, are lay people allowed to write their own? I have a hunch I can use these to get through my dry period (as some of you will know from the “I feel tired” thread.)
 
scapularkid8 said:
I love them. A few questions though. One, why do Eastern Catholics pray in front of them? Two, how can you use them in prayer. Three, are lay people allowed to write their own? I have a hunch I can use these to get through my dry period (as some of you will know from the “I feel tired” thread.)
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I pray in front of the San Damiano Crucifix, an icon crucifix. Saint Francis prayed in front of the original crucifix. (It is six feet tall.) I use a smaller version, and other icons, to focus me and reduce unwanted distraction.

One icon is for silent meditation and contemplation, no words. A young female angel, hands folded. “She” is Jesus Christ, Holy Silence. “Be still, and know that I am God”.

Not sure about your third question. My own artistic talents minimal:(
 
Andruschak said:
One icon is for silent meditation and contemplation, no words. A young female angel, hands folded. “She” is Jesus Christ, Holy Silence. “Be still, and know that I am God”.
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I’m confused.:confused:

So is the icon of an angel, or is it of Christ?

It can’t be both, it has to be one or the other …
 
scapularkid8 said:
I love them. A few questions though. One, why do Eastern Catholics pray in front of them? Two, how can you use them in prayer. Three, are lay people allowed to write their own? I have a hunch I can use these to get through my dry period (as some of you will know from the “I feel tired” thread.)
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I took a whole course just on icons when I was training to be a deacon in the Eastern Catholic Church.

That was back some 5 or 6 years ago, but I’ll try to answer your questions from what I remember of that class:
  1. Eastern Catholics pray in front of icons for the same reason Roman Catholics pray in front of statues, etc.
The statue/icon offers a representation of either God Himself (the Trinity, Jesus, etc.), one of His Saints, or a spiritual reality (the Resurrection, Baptism, etc.).

And a soul’s reflecting on such spiritual realities helps to bring that soul closer to God.
  1. We use them in prayer much in the way that I have described above. Also, many Eastern Catholics have a prayer corner in their home.
When I taught Catechism, there was a prayer corner in each one of our classrooms that we used pray in front of before and after each class.
  1. While personal expressions of our faith (that are in good taste and are part of our Tradition) are ALWAYS encouraged, for an icon per se, the icon is usually painted only after much spirtitual preparation has been made by the person who is painting the icon.
This would include weeks or even months of fasting, and anything else that would help them to better receive God’s graces so that the icon (which is considered a “window into Heaven”) is properly represented.

Hope that helps!
 
Andruschak said:
Both. Here is a link to the writer of the icon, and his comments.

puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/silence.html
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Well, you totally lost me on that one Andruschak.

http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/images/silence.jpg

No way, no how …

Could I ever spiritually meditate on a “female looking” Jesus.

It’s just wrong. Nope.

Can’t do it.

Now this one maybe (one that’s from centuries ago):



But definitely not the other one.

After all, Jesus chose to be incarnated as a man.

And that’s that.
 
FiremanFrank said:
Well, you totally lost me on that one Andruschak.

College of Arts and Sciences | Creighton University

No way, no how …

Could I ever spiritually meditate on a “female looking” Jesus.

It’s just wrong. Nope.

Can’t do it.

Now this one maybe (one that’s from centuries ago):

http://www.ecva.org/exhibition/icons/images/zoole.jpg

But definitely not the other one.

After all, Jesus chose to be incarnated as a man.

And that’s that.
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Iconography is a calling from God. There are many “rules” concerning what can be expressed and what cannot. An iconographer is not merely an artist who paints holy pictures - that would be more of a definition of a secular artist creating “western” art. Iconography requires a lot of prayer and fasting - it can probably be best explained as being an instrument of the Holy Spirit.

There are a large number of iconographers whose work is lacking a true Orthodox spiritual aspect. In other words, not all iconography is good. If you google “images of iconography” you’ll see a vast array of examples. www.iconsexplained.com is a good place to start for anyone wanting to learn more. There is also a distinction between Greek, Russian, Ukranian, Polish, Ethophian, etc. icons.

There is also a site www.iconofile.com that has a forum for iconographers. Also www.byzcath.org is a good site devoted to the Eastern Catholic Churches.
 
Maybe a greater understanding of the icons in worship of God and his Creation, is made a bit clearer - though this is not directly about icons - how worship in the Byzantine Church takes place. It is an exerpt from Archbishop Jospeh Raya’s *Eyes of the Gospel. * melkite.org/Passage.html#Introduction
 
I love icons, especially reproductions of old, historic traditional images. The Holy Face, OLPH, San Damiano cross, the one of the trinity, Christ Pantocrator, etc. I have a lot of difficulty with modern icons which simply do not communicate to me. I don’t know if that is because I grew up in the Latin tradition, although we were always in and out of Orthodox and Eastern Rite churches so I am rather familiar with icons in general. An image on paper does not have the same impact as one on wood.

I also have a problem with very modern statues of “classical” religious figures in Western art. Quite frankly, the Divine Mercy image I see most frequently has absolutely no appeal for me next to the classic Sacred Heart statue I grew up with. I take this as a sign of my rapidly advancing age and its accompanying crankiness.
 
Polish said:
There are a large number of iconographers whose work is lacking a true Orthodox spiritual aspect.

In other words, not all iconography is good.
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Well there you go.

Then that explains that “icon” of that female Jesus.
 
FiremanFrank said:
Well, you totally lost me on that one Andruschak.
No way, no how …

Could I ever spiritually meditate on a “female looking” Jesus.

It’s just wrong. Nope.

Can’t do it.

Now this one maybe (one that’s from centuries ago):

But definitely not the other one.

After all, Jesus chose to be incarnated as a man.

And that’s that.
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Did you bother to actually READ what the writer of the icon had to say about it?

For starters, Icons are a world of their own. Of spiritual truths. And why cannot Jesus come to you as a female angel, to sit with you, in silence, He has not that power? Are you that hung up on gender? If so, you should buy the other icon, should you feel a need for an icon to practice holy silence with.

But for me…I have no problems with a female Christ. Or with a female Divine Wisdom. I can sit with this female angel, and practice that old AA slogan of “Let Go And Let God”.

“Be still, and know that I am God”
 
Please…no thread hijacking. If you have a discussion you would like to continue, please use the private message feature. I’m seeking some answers for my questions, not a theological show-down. Sorry if I seem rude, but this isn’t really the thread for that discussion.
 
scapularkid8 said:
I love them. A few questions though. One, why do Eastern Catholics pray in front of them? Two, how can you use them in prayer. Three, are lay people allowed to write their own? I have a hunch I can use these to get through my dry period (as some of you will know from the “I feel tired” thread.)
Click to expand...
You could paint a picture which resembled an icon and find the peace and contemplation that comes with such an exercise. It might open you up to a new vocation! I know an iconographer who started his art for therapeutic and calming means and now also dedicates that talent to God through his iconography. Writing an icon is a little different and something you need some guidance in, but painting a picture is always open to you!

Here’s a practical explanation of an icon corner.

Here’s a helpful article about how to pray. It has more advanced links at the bottom to further elaborate. Having a dedicated icon corner is helpful to many because it creates a prayerful space in their home, and therefore in their lives. It brings the reality of the communion of saints, and through them the awesomeness of God, home to them in a tangible and accessible way. We are a physical people. The Eastern practice acknowledges this and harnesses it by giving each of our senses something to focus on, all of which direct our attention to the Trinity. We can see and touch the icons, feel and smell and see the candles, smell the incense, taste the antidoran and holy water, hear and speak our prayers, think of the glory of God, bow in reverence, rise in a new life. We can enter into a new life with the Trinity by using all of our being and senses to worship God in this one.
 
scapularkid8 said:
Please…no thread hijacking. If you have a discussion you would like to continue, please use the private message feature. I’m seeking some answers for my questions, not a theological show-down. Sorry if I seem rude, but this isn’t really the thread for that discussion.
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Well s/k, did you read my answer to you in post #5?

I attend an Eastern Catholic Church, and I have taken classes about Iconography.

So what other questions may I answer for you?
 
JugglingReferee said:
Ukrainian.

Ethiophian.

Sorry, as a UGCC member, I always notice when Ukrainian is misspelled. Sound it out: Uk-rain-nian.
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Thanks for the correction. Old age and disabilities make me a little less careful in my expressions. 😃
 
Don’t know if you’re still around s/kid, but here’s some more information for 'ya …

Rules For the Icon Painter:

First, we must always remember that Divine Revelation takes place throught the icon, this having been transmitted to us through the Spoken Word or by Tradition.

1) Before starting work, make the sign of the Cross; pray in silence, and pardon your enemies.

2) Work with care on every detail of your icon, as if you were working in front of the Lord Himself.

**3) **During work, pray in order to strengthen yourself physically and spiritually; avoid, above all, useless words, and keep silence.

4) Pray in particular to the saint whose face you are painting. Keep your mind from distractions and the saint will be close to you.

5) When you have to choose a color, stretch out your hand interiorly to the Lord and ask His counsel.

6) Do not be jealous of your neighbor’s work; his success is your success too.

7) When your icon is finished, thank God that His mercy has granted you the grace to paint the holy image.

8) Have your icon blessed by putting it on the altar. Be the first to pary before it, before giving it to others.

9) Never forget: the joy of spreading icons in the world, the joy of the work of icon painting, the joy of giving the saint the possibility to shine through his icon, the joy of being in union with the saint whose face you are painting.

So s/kid, now you can see why there are clear differences between icons and “religious art”.
 
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