What is Orthodox iconography?

What is Orthodox iconography?

Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event.

Why do Greek Orthodox kiss icons?

Processing with icons around the church reminds us that the path from Galilee to Golgotha is a path through matter that ultimately redeems it. So we kiss icons, and we bow before them, because, thanks to Christ, the world he entered and made a part of himself is good and holy. Thus, as St.

What does the Greek word icon mean?

An icon is a symbol. Icon comes to us from the Greek word eikenai, meaning “to seem or to be like.” In certain religions, statues of religious figures are referred to as icons––because they are prayed to as if they were the thing they represent.

Why is it bad to cross your legs in church?

Leg crossing has long been linked to morality and etiquette. In some countries and cultures leg crossing is looked on as casual, disrespectful, and altogether lower class. For the same reasons, many orthodox religions frown upon leg crossing in church. And what’s good for the soul should be good for the feet as well.

What does the dome symbolize?

Domes and tent-canopies were also associated with the heavens in Ancient Persia and the Hellenistic-Roman world. A dome over a square base reflected the geometric symbolism of those shapes. The circle represented perfection, eternity, and the heavens. The square represented the earth.

What makes Greek Orthodox different?

The Orthodox Church differs substantially from the other Churches in the way of life and worship, and in certain aspects of theology. The Holy Spirit is seen as present in and as the guide to the Church working through the whole body of the Church, as well as through priests and bishops.

What do Greek Orthodox people believe in?

Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholics share the most essential views about God. They believe God made everything. They believe God is a Trinity: a single being consisting of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They also believe that Jesus was God. Eastern and Western Christians differ in their understanding of humanity, however.

Is Greek Orthodox a form of Christianity?

The Greek Orthodox Church is the Greek branch of the Orthodox church. The Orthodox Church is the oldest group in Christianity. The proper name for someone who goes to an Orthodox Church is an Orthodox Christian.

What is Greek Orthodox icon?

An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn “image”) is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic, and certain Eastern Catholic churches. The most common subjects include Christ, Mary, saints or angels.

What are Orthodox icons?

The tradition of Eastern Orthodox Icon is known world wide. Eastern Icons are famous for their distinctive style of painting and its influence on Eastern’s cultural development.

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