The Icon
“An icon is a sacred image, an image by which holiness is not only portrayed through wood and paints, but also is experienced by the actual presence of God. The icon is a manifestation of God to us, in a sense it is a "window to heaven," a real presence of God, a real presence of the Holy in our midst.” -Bishop Nicholas Samra

Anyone who has been in Saint Elias Church, or any Byzantine Church for that matter, has encountered iconography in some form. But these funny looking pictures can be rather puzzling. Why are they distorted? Why did the artist choose those colors? What are those funny looking letters and what do they mean?
I found myself asking many of the same questions I present here and through my research I hope I can answer your questions as well. I compiled most of the following information when I was researching a presentation I made to the youth group last year. So rather than bludgeon my reader with paragraph after paragraph of explanation, I have chosen to ask and answer some questions pertaining to iconography and its use.
Before I begin I should say a few things about Saint Elias Church. Even though the principles of iconography are visible throughout the Church, there are not many icons. Icons are typically multiply layered paintings on wood. Instead, the principles of iconography are visible on the mosaics and murals. Mosaics are religious depictions assembled through the combinations of many small colored tiles that form a picture when the piece are all put together. The screen in front of the altar, the iconostas, contains many of the mosaics we see as parishioners. Murals are the paintings on walls but in the case of Saint Elias Church, also the depictions on the ceiling.
So with that, I present to you, possible questions and answers…….
Q. What does the word icon mean?
A. The word icon is from the Greek meaning image, but it has taken on the connotation of meaning sacred image. The original word was eikon.
Q. I’m assuming that Jesus, the Saints, and the Mother of God were
not quite so misshaped. Why do the people in the depictions look so funny?
A. No, the iconographer (that’s the guy who makes the icon) is not a second rate artist. Realistic depictions are not intended. Instead, the artist follows a distinct pattern for geometrical symmetry in the painting, which in turn makes the people depicted look unrealistic and often misshaped. Also the purpose is not to see the people in their realistic form, instead icons are tools that promote devotion, and meditation, prayers of intercession. The focus should be prayer and the spirit of the person depicted. If realistic too much emphasis would be placed on physical appearance. An icon should transcend the human state.
Q. I’m not happy with my present career, I am tired of my major in college, or I am just thinking of what I want to be when I grow up. I think I’m pretty artistic how do I become an iconographer?
A. Don’t think this is going to be easy. First of all icons are not regarded as painted, instead the practice of icon creation is called writing.
Getting down to business, the iconographer is expected to fast, pray, and live a holy life so as to be capable of expressing sacred and divine mysteries. Thus the icon becomes, in a way, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, containing spiritual power. Since the 9th Century, the Orthodox Church has established a set of technical rules, or canons for the artistic form of icons.
Q. I think I’m pretty talented at color coordination. Why don’t they choose earth tones and pastels more? Why do iconographers choose the colors they do?
A. There are quite a few colors used, but my explanation is will focus on three found in some form in most icons.
Blue, the color of the sky, is symbolic of heaven. It may also be used to symbolize truth. If predominant, it can be symbolic of divinity. Red is the color of blood, and so is used in the church as the liturgical color for the commemoration of martyred saints. Since it is associated with blood it often illustrates a figures humanity. Yellow is a color that serves a dual purpose. As the color of light, yellow may be used to represent divinity. However, because yellow light is not pure white, it may also be used to symbolize corruption and degradation.
I don’t know about you but I can’t read those letters. It’s all Greek to me! What do the letters mean?
The letters are actually abbreviated titles for the people depicted. The letters use the unique Byzantine hybrid of Greek. (My typeset and copyright do not allow me to offer any examples)
I realize that this overview is rather brief and I probably didn’t answer all your questions, but I hope that I helped shed some light on a few interesting facts about iconography and why the mosaics and murals in St. Elias look the way they do.

By: Andrew Higl (St. Elias Parishioner)