Would "writing" Icons with kids offend an Orthodox?

[leonie]

I’ve done this art project with Roman rite kids, but now we have a Greek Orthodox family in our homeschool co-op. For the Roman rite kids, I think it’s a nice introduction to Icons, but since veneration of Icons and the writing of Icons is not as much a devotion in the Roman Rite, I’m unsure if it might offend an Orthodox since we wouldn’t be doing it technically correct.

I have the kids color carefully a paper picture of a well known Icon, using traditional colors. Then, the kids back a piece of wood with gold metallic wrapping paper. Then they glue the Icon picture on the paper. Then, we add Greek letters in the appropriate places.

While they are assembling the Icons, I explain some of the symbolism of the colors, posture, and objects.

What do you think?

 

[scapularkid8]

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

 

[Nine_Two]

Pretty sure I’ve seen examples where our Church School has done similar things, but you never know, there are always people who manage to be offended by anything.

 

[Volodymyr]

IKONS FOR CHILDREN

Ikon painting is an ecclesiastical art. Of course, for some contemporary people, ikons have only an artistic value - for example in museums they present whole iconographic expositions of such or other time. But in the first place, the Ikon is an object of Holiness. It is wrong to seek in her only external beauty. Her job is to act together with prayer, therefore it is very important that an Ikon be created by hands of a person with a clean heart and soul who is properly disposed relating to icons. Already in the 16century in the Stoglavij Sobor, the Russian Church (43 chapter) prescribed that the Ikon-painter be “modest, humble, devote, not idle, not joking, not grumbling, not jealous, not drunkard, not thief, not murderer, especially seeking to perserve the spiritual and corporal purity from all danger.” Ikon-painting is a difficult labor and requires experience. In no sense is it an artistic creation, in which the artist is able to express his individuality through the picture. Ikon-painting is primarily the art of tradition. Therefore, ikon painters, especially those beginning (children included) must strictly adhere to those rules of painting of icons which have been worked out over the course of centuries by Holy Church.

Ikona painting classes for children raise the hope that by the Mercy of God, under the experience direction of a trained ikon painter that the children wll grow up and in adult life be able to do the work of ikon-covering of Orthodox churches and to preaching about Christ in paint.

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[leonie]

ok, I guess the previous post answers my question. I suppose it’s not really an art project since it isn’t creative, but it is creating a visual image.

I guess I’ll come up with a different project.

 

[Allyson]

You might as well just go ahead and ask the Orthodox parents in the co-op. You can explain that yes you have done it in the past; this is how you do it; and this is what the children learn about icons. They may not be offended; and even better they may be willing to help and contribute to the exercise if they are not adverse to it.

You are not technically writing icons to begin with as I see from your discussion of the project. So I don’t think that you are going astray there. The question I think would be whether or not the reproduction of the image itself would be considered offensive.

There are some who feel that the reproduction of the image of an icon on paper - such as those that come pre-printed on the weekly announcements that many Eastern Catholic and Orthodox parish uses - is an out right offense, because (I believe) the image would not not treated with the same reverence, i.e. it is thrown usually away.

If it were me I would go ahead and talk with the parents and see what they actually think of the project. Explain that you are concerned with what they think, but that you would like to continue with the project if they have no objections.

Good Luck and God Bless,
Rosemary

PS I am interested in hearing how things go if you go ahead with the project.

 

[5Loaves]

Christos anesti! Christ is risen!

… now we have a Greek Orthodox family in our homeschool co-op.

This really makes my day! Opa! May this be a wonderful association for all of you.

If it were me I would go ahead and **talk with the parents and see what they actually think **of the project. Explain that you are concerned with what they think, but that you would like to continue with the project if they have no objections.

Good Luck and God Bless,
Rosemary

PS I am interested in hearing how things go if you go ahead with the project.

Agreed.

FYI, leonie, Eastern Christian Publications has a variety of Coloring Books of Sacred Icons, none of which have I seen.

While they are assembling the Icons, I explain some of the symbolism of the colors, posture, and objects…

I own and love and use often their The Twelve Great Feasts: Part 1 The Handbook. It breaks down each Icon into the main components and describes those, as well several pages about the Feast itself and a section at the end of “Activities” some of which connect with the companion book The Twelve Great Feasts: Part 2 The Toolkit. *

The coloring books may do this as well, I wish I’d seen them and could tell you. Neither their site nor St. Joseph School for Boys gives a description. Maybe EC Pub could fax or scan/pdf you a page to see what they look like.

I notice that Ronda Doucette who runs the Orthodox St. Joseph School for Boys Bookstore website has these same coloring books and Handbooks for sale on their site. She’s an Orthodox homeschooler I believe. I’ve purchased a number of things from her in the past. One that I also love for it’s portability re Feasts and Icons is their Orthodox Children’s Icon Flashcards. The Flashcards are large, on good heavy paper and have an extensive description on the back.

(I don’t work with children, I’m a catechist with adults and the two resource I mention I use with adults, although they are marketed for children. I like to make use of Holy Icons for emphasizing Feast Days for our Latin catechumen.)

Off topic, but with the Greek Orthodox family in your co-op it might also be an opportunity to talk about fasting traditions.

Thank you for your work in homeschooling your children. May your Easter be filled with many blessings.

The Twelve Great Feasts: Part 1 The Handbook Over 100 pages of theological commentary on the feasts and their icons to help form youth and families in the Gospel of the Great Feasts. Full color. Large format.
The Twelve Great Feasts: Part 2 The Toolkit. Over 100 pages of tools and activities for youth and families to experience the richness of the liturgical cycle of the Great Feasts. Full color. Frameable icons are included. Large format.

 

[leonie]

thanks everyone!