Holy Icons

Icons for Evangelism

What are Icons?• The English term Icon, which means "likeness, image, or

representation," comes from the Greek word eikon. • Iconography is an art form of Christians normally

associated with Orthodox Churches. • St Luke is consider to the first Iconographer.• It was thought to have originated in the first century A.D.

in the catacombs of Rome. • By the end of the fifth century practiced in Syria, Egypt,

and Asia minor.

Understanding Icons

Is it not Idolatry ?

Understanding Icons

Exodus 20:4: "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below………..You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God,

Orthodoxy doesn’t allow you to worship any Images or any materialistic things. We don’t worship Icons We Venerate

Understanding Icons

Is there any scriptural support ?

The incarnation itself is the greatest scriptural description,

When the Word became Flesh

Exodus 26:31, Pictures of cherubim on temple door, on temple walls are mentioned in Old Testament , The serpent road etc

Why do we need images then, what's there use ???• Human mind believes in Visualization

• Whatever human visualize they materialize or make it realistic

• We are created in the image and likeness of the creator. We are the work of a supreme artist. That means we are also gifted with an artistic skill.

How can we create Icon of Lord God Jesus

“I am emboldened to depict the invisible God, not as invisible, but as he became visible for our sake, by participation in flesh and blood. …….I do not depict the invisible divinity, but I depict God made visible in the flesh.”St John of Damascus

Understanding Icons

Are we worshiping or praying to an Icon ?

No, We are never allowed to worship an Icon rather we venerate them and respect them.

Praying with an Icon and not to an Icon

• Community of Prayer

Understanding Icons

We have our family pictures in our home and its natural for us in our Church also to be surrounded by Saints they are our family in our church

• Community of Creation

(Noah’s ark and Orthodox Church)

"What the word transmits through the ear, the painting (Icons) silently shows through the image, and by these two means, mutually accompanying one another... we receive knowledge of one and the same thing.“St Basil the Great , 4th Century

Bible is a Written Gospel and Icons are visual Gospel

If the Icons is shown by Holy scripture then Holy scripture is shown incontestably clear by the Icons Acts of the 7th Council

Icons not only teach, as do written accounts, but in some instances they are more vivid than written accounts, St Photios of Constantinople

When you cover one side of His face this side appears the way He will be seen by those who will be found righteous on that day.

When you cover the other side of His face, this side appears the way He will be seen by those condemned on Judgement Day.

Why would God send his only Son to be wounded and to die for our us ????

Mother Mary and Jesus

Virtual tour of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Thank you