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May 2023 S M T W T F S 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
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Tag Archives: Iconography
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
Are the Saints who destroyed idols Iconoclasts?
In the 8th-century A.D., the veneration of images of Christ and His Saints was restored by the Byzantine Emperor, after being previously outlawed. This Triumph of Orthodoxy not only defended the veneration of icons as “permissible”, but actively confessed the … Continue reading →
Posted in Apologia, History, Iconography
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Tagged Iconoclast, Iconography, Idol-smashing, Veneration
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6 Comments
Saints who destroyed religious images
Previous posts called What Makes an Icon Holy? and How not to be an accidental Iconoclast have, hopefully, explained why Icons are given such an exalted place within Orthodoxy. In short, icons are holy when they represent holy things: Christ … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Iconography, The Saints
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Tagged Iconoclast, Iconography, Idol-smashing, Veneration
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10 Comments
The Warrior Saints
Also called soldier saints, these are a group of saints who were generally soldiers in life, martyrs to Christ in death, and then latterly revealed as our heavenly protectors. But is their appearance in icons – equipped and ready for … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Iconography, The Saints
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Tagged Iconography, Iconostasis, Jesus Christ, Martyrs, Soldier-Saints, Veneration
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11 Comments
Tiny 6th Century Icons Found in Jerusalem
Israel Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a 1,400-year-old Christian devotional aid (dubbed a “Prayer Box”) made of bone, with two paintings believed to portray the Virgin Mary and Jesus. The size of the box (a tiny 0.8 x 0.6in, … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Icons of Christ, News, The Theotokos
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Tagged Greek Icons, Iconography, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Theotokos, Veneration
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Akathist Hymn in Icons | Prophecies and Praises
In my last post about the Akathist Hymn in Icons, I mentioned the Old Testament Saints who surround the Mother of God, offering her praises. It is Old Testament Saints who surround the Mother of God, rather than St Roman … Continue reading →
Posted in Icons of the Incarnation, The Saints, The Theotokos
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Tagged Akathist, Iconography, Jesus Christ, Mother of God, Old Testament, Russian Icon, Theotokos
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1 Comment
The 100% Non-Definitive Guide to Colour in Icons
Vincent van Gogh said of the Mediterranean: “[It] has the colour of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don’t always know if it is green or violet, you can’t even say it’s blue, because the next moment the changing reflection has … Continue reading →
Posted in Iconography
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Tagged Colour, Iconography, Jesus Christ, Stylism, Theotokos, Veneration
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7 Comments
The meaning of objects held by Saints in Icons
Iconography can be an extremely concise way of communicating the Faith. Therefore, what the Saints hold in their hands in portrait icons help in identifying them and in telling us about their lives. I hope to show that what is … Continue reading →
Posted in History, Iconography, The Saints, The Theotokos
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Tagged Iconography, Martyrs, Old Testament, Stylism, The Apostles, The Cross
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59 Comments
From Vespers on the Sunday of Orthodoxy
“Inspired by your Spirit, Lord, the prophets foretold your birth as a child incarnate of the Virgin. Nothing can contain or hold you; before the morning star you shone forth eternally from the spiritual womb of the Father. Yet you … Continue reading →
Posted in Apologia, Iconography, Icons of Christ, The Saints, The Theotokos
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Tagged Iconoclast, Iconography, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Triumph of Orthodoxy, Veneration
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1 Comment