ST JOHN DAMASCENE.

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Iconography

• ST JOHN DAMASCENE.
• I WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AS THE INCARNATE
  GOD THAT OF OUR LADY, THE MOTHER OF US ALL, AS
  THE MOTHER OF GOD'S SON THAT OF THE SAINTS AS
  THE FRIENDS OF GOD. THEY HAVE WITHSTOOD SIN UNTO
  BLOOD, AND FOLLOWED CHRIST IN SHEDDING THEIR
  BLOOD FOR HIM, WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THEM.

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What is the purpose of iconography?

• Byzantine iconography is an example of art in the
  service of theology and the salvation of
  humankind which was seen to be surrounded by sin
  and destruction. Although dominated by theology,
  Byzantine art is a complex thing that looks for
  an absolute meaning and truth in life, a
  spiritual component and an educational tool.

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What is the purpose of iconography?

• Iconography is to be understood as being the
  imagery that elevates and reveals the truth.

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How do Icons function in a church

• .  Readings are done in front of them,
•   The icons are also interacted with physically
  through rituals such as the lighting of candles
  in front of them, the censing of them by priests,
  and the kissing, dressing, anointing and washing
  which form part of worshipers' and church
  officials' worship activities. 
• Worshipers circulate throughout the church to
  contact the various icons.
• Icons have renewed themselves. 

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An Iconographer writing icons in a church
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• This is because the theology behind icons is
  closely tied to the Incarnational theology of the
  humanity and Divinity of Jesus, so that attacks
  on icons typically have the effect of undermining
  or attacking the Incarnation of Jesus himself as
  taught in the Ecumenical Councils.

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Symbols

• Almost everything within the image has a symbolic
  aspect. Christ, the saints, and the angels all
  have halos. Angels (and often John the Baptist)
  have wings because they are messengers.
• Figures have consistent facial appearances, hold
  attributes personal to them, and use a few
  conventional poses.

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Symbols

• Letters are symbols too.
• Most icons incorporate some calligraphic text
  naming the person or event depicted. Even this is
  often presented in a stylized manner.
• The inscriptions naming the figure accompany each
  image so that there is no confusion. 
  Inscriptions are placed beside the head and are
  clearly legible.
•  

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Symbols

• Symbols are often included to further identify
  figures.  Certain colors are associated with
  certain individuals, such as blue for Mary's
  robe.  Particular numbers, like twelve for the
  apostles, renders a group easily identifiable. 
  St Paul being the 12th apostle.
• And objects associated with saints, called
  "attributes" help to make meaning clear Saint
  Catherine's wheel, a symbol of her martyrdom,
  allows easy recognition

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Style

• Icons are usually presented in an abstract
  style--certain elements are pulled out and made
  obvious. 
• The faces and bodies are rather flat and clearly
  separated by outlines.  If there is an attribute,
  or a particular facial feature or hairstyle, it
  will be emphasized and made prominent.         
•       

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Colours

• Most frequently, the figures or scenes are set
  against a gold background, which serves to take
  the image out of any recognizable space and time,
  and at the same time intensifies the colors.  The
  golden glow is one of the preeminent impressions
  of the icon

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colours

• Gold represents the radiance of Heaven red,
  divine life. Blue is the color of human life,
  white is the uncreated essence of God, only used
  for resurrection and transfiguration of Christ.
  If you look at icons of Jesus and Mary Jesus
  wears red undergarment with a blue outer garment
  (God become Human) and Mary wears a blue
  undergarment with a red over garment (human was
  granted gifts by God), thus the doctrine of
  deification is conveyed by icons.

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gesture

• The fingers spell out IC XC, a widely used four
  letter abbreviation of the Greek for Jesus
  (IHCOYC) Christ (XPICTOC). It is by the name of
  Jesus that we are saved and receive blessings
  At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
  things in heaven, and things in earth, and things
  under the earth (Phil 210).
• The three fingers of Christ as well as spelling
  out I and X confess the Tri-unity of God
  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The touching finger
  and thumb of Jesus not only spell out C, but
  attest to the Incarnation to the joining of
  divine and human natures found in the body of
  Jesus Christ.

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• . Yet the IC XC Christogram is much more than
  this it is both a sign and means of blessing.
  Christ raises His right hand and Christians
  receive the blessings of God. More than this,
  even if His servants, the Saints, holds their
  hands in the same way, we are assured of
  receiving the blessings of God, through the name
  of Jesus Christ

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Theology and spirituality of the icon.

• According to John of Damascus, anyone who tries
  to destroy icons "is the enemy of Christ, the
  Holy Mother of God and the saints, and is the
  defender of the Devil and his demons.

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The role of the icon in liturgy.Why are they
important?
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praying in front of an icon
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Jesus prayer
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Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner
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• "The Prayer goes back to the New Testament and
  has had a long, traditional use. The method of
  contemplation based upon the Holy Name is
  attributed to St. Simeon, called the New
  Theologian (949-1022). When he was 14 years old,
  St. Simeon had a vision of heavenly light in
  which he seemed to be separated from his body.
  Amazed, and overcome with an overpowering joy, he
  felt a consuming humility, and cried, borrowing
  the Publican's prayer (Luke 1813), "Lord Jesus,
  have mercy upon me." Long after the vision had
  disappeared, the great joy returned to St. Simeon
  each time he repeated the prayer and he taught
  his disciples to worship likewise. The prayer
  evolved into its expanded form "Lord Jesus
  Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a
  sinner." In this guise it has come down to us
  frown generation to generation of pious monks and
  laymen.