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- What does this hand gesture mean in Icons?
- The Nativity Icon
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- The meaning of objects held by Saints in Icons
- Why does John the Baptist have wings in Orthodox icons?
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- Saints who destroyed religious images
- Jesus Christ | The Icon of God
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December 2019 S M T W T F S « Feb 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Blogroll
- Defence of Holy Icons Apologia by St. John Damascene
- Icon FAQ by Fr John Whiteford
- Orthodox Parish of St Cuthbert, UK
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Category Archives: Iconography
Icons of the Bosom of Abraham
The Sundays before the Nativity feast (Christmas) are dedicated to the Holy Forefathers and Ancestors of Jesus Christ. Among all the Old Testament Saints commemorated on these days, Abraham is perhaps the supreme example, being the common patriarch of Judaism … Continue reading →
The Synaxis of the Mother of God
The day after every major feast in the Orthodox Church is usually dedicated to a saint who played a major “supporting role” in the events celebrated. So, the 7th of January – the day after we celebrate the baptism of … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Iconography, Icons of the Incarnation, The Theotokos
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Tagged Magi, Mother of God, Nativity, Russian Icon, Theotokos
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2 Comments
Why does John the Baptist have wings in Orthodox icons?
August 29th is the day that commemorates the Beheading of John the Baptist. Why is this Saint, almost uniquely, shown in many icons with wings?
Posted in Iconography, The Saints
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Tagged Angels, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Stylism
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13 Comments
All Saints Icon | The Great Cloud of Witnesses
After Pentecost, remembering the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Church celebrates the Sunday of All Saints. This is fitting, as the Saints are the result of the Holy Spirit being given to the Apostles, the fruits of that “grain … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Iconography, Icons of Christ, The Saints
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Tagged All Saints, Angels, Greek Icons, Hetoimasia, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Martyrs, Old Testament
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4 Comments
The Holy Spirit as a dove in iconography
A previous post on the Throne of Preparation showed the widespread (in time and location) practice of depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove. The Holy Spirit did descend “as a dove” at the Baptism of Christ, and so naturally … Continue reading →
Posted in Apologia, History, Iconography
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Tagged Dove, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, mandorla, Stylism
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8 Comments
Hetoimasia | The Throne of Preparation
The Hetoimasia (Gr. ἑτοιμασία, “preparation”), or Throne of Preparation, is one of the most widespread images in iconography, particularly in Orthodox Christianity. It very rarely dominates any composition it is part of, so the image and its significance can be … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Iconography, Icons of Christ, Special Icons
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Tagged Hetoimasia, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Iconography, Judgment, Mosaics, Serbian Frescos, Throne of Preparation
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5 Comments
Why do the Saints never smile in icons?
There are over 400 occurrences of the word “joy” in the Bible, most of them referring to what awaits those who become close to God. So why do icons – portraits of people who have been received by Christ into … Continue reading →
Posted in Iconography, The Saints
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Tagged Ascetic Saints, Dispassion, Iconography, Rublev, Stylism, Veneration
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16 Comments