Why Icons Matter

• In the Orthodox Church, an icon is not a decoration. It is a sacred image that proclaims the Incarnation and invites us to prayer.
• The Greek word for icon means image. Because the Son of God truly took flesh and could be seen and touched, Christians depict Him and His saints without confusion or fear.
• We venerate icons. We worship God alone. Veneration expresses love and honor toward the person depicted, while worship belongs only to the Holy Trinity.

Scripture and the Holy Tradition

• Old Testament worship featured God commanded images. The tabernacle and the temple were adorned with cherubim and engraved designs.
• Christ Himself points to the bronze serpent in the wilderness as a sign fulfilled in His Cross. Holy images direct our faith to the living God.
• From the earliest centuries Christians painted images in catacombs as a confession of faith and a teaching tool for the whole community.

When Icons Were Attacked and Defended

• Iconoclasm confused veneration with idolatry and sought to remove holy images from Christian life.
• The Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea affirmed the veneration of icons as part of the faith delivered to the saints.
• The first Sunday of Great Lent is kept as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Faithful bring icons in procession to celebrate the triumph of true worship.

How to Read an Icon

• Icons follow a shared language rather than personal artistic expression. This preserves theology in color and line across centuries.
• Light is interior. There are no cast shadows because the uncreated light of God illumines all.
• Faces are serene and spiritualized. The eyes are large to see God. The mouth is closed to guard prayer. The nose is slender to show freedom from earthly passions.
• Figures at the center are larger because the icon arranges space for meaning rather than for natural perspective.
• Hands often hold the instrument of salvation. Evangelists hold Gospels or scrolls. Martyrs may hold a cross. Bishops hold a Gospel and bless.
• Christ’s right hand forms the blessing ICXC. This is a confession that Jesus Christ conquers and blesses His people.
• Mountains, buildings, and trees lean toward Christ. Creation itself is drawn to the Savior.

What Colors Mean

• Gold signifies divine light and grace. Backgrounds and halos glimmer with the glory of God.
• White shows purity and the light of the Resurrection. Think of Christ at the Transfiguration.
• Blue speaks of transcendence and truth. It is the color of the heavenly realm.
• Red recalls blood, love, and martyrdom. It also reveals the fiery energy of divine life.
• Green symbolizes renewal and the life of creation.
• Black conveys renunciation and the tragedy of separation from God. Monastic garments and scenes of final judgment make use of it with sobriety.

The Theotokos and Christ

• Look for three stars on the veil of the Theotokos that proclaim her virginity before, during, and after the birth of Christ.
• Christ is often shown with blue and red garments. Blue points to divinity. Red points to humanity and sacrificial love. Together they proclaim the one divine Person who became man for our salvation.

Praying With Icons

1. Stand before the icon calmly. Make the sign of the Cross and bow with attention.
2. Read the name. Ask the saint to pray for you. Speak simply. Keep your heart quiet.
3. Let your eyes rest on the face and hands. Receive the peace and teaching the icon offers.
4. End with thanksgiving to God who is wonderful in His saints.

Common Questions

• Do we pray to wood and paint No. We address the person depicted, asking their intercession. The honor given to the image passes to its prototype.
• Is this idolatry No. Idolatry gives worship to a false god. Christians venerate saints as friends of God while worshipping the Trinity alone.
• What about statues Christian art developed in different ways across lands and centuries. The Orthodox language favors painted theology that emphasizes the transfigured world and the victory of divine light.

A Family Wall of Faith

Icons surround us in church because the Church is a household. The saints are our family and their faces call us to become what we behold.

Takeaways For Catechumens

1. Icons preach the Incarnation. Because the Word became flesh, the Church dares to paint His face.
2. Veneration is not worship. Honor to saints strengthens worship of the Holy Trinity.
3. Symbolism protects doctrine. Form and color teach as clearly as words.
4. The Council of Nicaea II affirms what Scripture and living tradition already witness.
5. Bring icons into your prayer corner and let them form your heart daily.

Gratitude

• We give thanks for the faithful who preserved holy icons at the cost of their lives.
• We thank God for the teachers who help us read these windows to heaven with humility and joy.