Icons and Vestments
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Liturgy module is to teach children the rites, objects, and purpose of the Liturgy. Every week of this module will focus on the Liturgy: Week 1 -- The Censer/Intro to Intercessions, Week 2 -- Holy Bread/who makes them, Week 3 -- Altar Utensils/Eucharist, Week 4 -- Icons/Vestments. Week 5 is the capstone week to review.
INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes
Option 1
Bring in small binoculars. With your binoculars, look through a window. Give children a chance to look through the binoculars themselves. Ask them: What do you see?
Have them explain what they see with the binoculars and then without the binoculars through that same window.
Notice how we are able to see everything more clearly with the binoculars. Even the things that are far away. That is exactly what the icons of the Church are. Icons are like the binoculars we use to see into heaven, they are like a window into heaven Icons allow us to learn and live the saint's story.
Option 2
Using a board or projected slideshow, create a K-W-L Chart with the class.
K is what students already know, W is what they want to know about the topic, and L is what they have learned (you will fill this part at the discussion portion).
Under 'K' have students tell you what they know about icons and vestments. After they have told you everything they know, have them tell you what they want to know about icons and vestments. Leave the 'L' blank for now.
CONTENT (KEY POINTS)
ICONS
- What does the word Icon mean? The definition of an icon in the Merriam Webster Dictionary is a conventional religious image typically painted on a small wooden panel and used in the devotions of Easter Christians. The word icon is Latin, from the Greek word eikon.
- An Icon is a painting that is used in the church to help us during our worship
- An Icon itself is never worshipped
- It is there to remind us of a certain event or saint
- An Icon itself is never worshipped
- Icons are a window into heaven
- Iconographers (the writers of the icon) never show the pain of the saints but only their glory
- Iconographers are always said to be the writers of the icon and not the painter because they are actually writing a story of the event or the saint
- If you see a picture of the devil, the devil is always drawn small or under the feet of God or the saints.
- God the Father is never drawn because He is unseen and infinite
- We learned the word "consecrated" in our previous lessons. Well, icons in the Church are consecrated. The bishop will need to consecrate the icons before churches use them
- The icons some people have in their homes are not consecrated
- Consecrated means the bishop prays a special prayer and puts the holy oil on it
- Many people like to have icons in their home to remind them of the saints story and their communion with the Lord Jesus Christ.
- The icons some people have in their homes are not consecrated
VESTMENTS
What does Vestments mean? Vestments are the outer clothes worn by the clergy during any church services. The outer clothes such as a robe or any other ceremonial attire. We will discuss more about the Vestments in the lesson.
- God told the priest to wear holy clothes
- Moses was given a command by God to make clothes for Aaron the priest
- God was very specific of what to use and the colors to be used when He was telling Moses what to make for Aaron and his sons
- In Exodus it tells us "And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron, your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest. They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked. It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together. And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen." Exodus 28:4-8
- White is the main color of the vestments of the church, representing purity
- The angels are always dressed in white
- The 24 heavenly priests are also dressed in white (Rev 4:4)
- Before the vestments of the priest are ever used by the priest they must be consecrated by a bishop
- The deacons also have special vestments to wear during the liturgy, they are called "Tonia".
- Those vestments are also white in color, the design on the tonia varies from where you buy it.
- Some have crosses or saints
- Those vestments are also white in color, the design on the tonia varies from where you buy it.
- Before the divine liturgy is celebrated the priest that is officiating the liturgy must bless both the priests tonia and the deacons.
APPLICATION - 5 Minutes
Who are some people in our life that we love and trust? (parents, abouna, siblings, friends, teachers, etc.).
Well, saints are also people we can love and trust and build a relationship with. We learned about what it means to ask for intercessions, right? So, when we go in front of an icon in Church, it is a chance for us to talk to the saint and ask them to pray for us.
Pass out pictures of any saint icon of your choosing. Encourage the kids to keep it safe and use it in prayer.
DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5-10 Minutes
- Ask review questions
- Go back to your KWL chart and reread what students said for 'K' and 'W.' Then fill in the 'L' portion. This is where students will tell you what they have learned during the lesson.
CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes
Today we learned about icons and vestments. Next time you are in church, take note of these items and remember the importance of each and the purpose for them.
ACTIVITY - 15 Minutes
Make an Icon - Please see the link for a list of ideas (Orthodox Pebbles - Icons)
RESOURCES
PARENTS' CORNER/HOMEWORK
Today students learned about icons and vestments. Talk about the icons in your home and review the saints in the icons you have at home.