Theology of Icons

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to demonstrate that there is only one Church, which is composed of saints in Heaven, known collectively as "the church triumphant" and saints on earth, known collectively as "the church militant." Icons are a window into heaven through which we offer glory and honor to our Lord, or the saint represented in them.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

In Port Said, Egypt, there was a faithful woman that was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a grim prognosis considering her condition and her doctors weren't very optimistic regarding her condition, but they still recommended she have a surgery performed. She prayed to her intercessor St. Mary. While she slept that night, St. Mary appeared to her, performed a surgery for the woman herself and renewed her flesh as if no illness was ever there. Since that day, as a sign to the entire diocese, the icon of St. Mary in Port Said has been weeping fragrant oil and during his annual visits to the US, His Eminence Metropolitan Tadros brings small vials with the blessed oil for the faithful here.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse- "He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Col. 1:15

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

Icons are not just pretty pictures that we use to decorate our homes like we do with paintings.

One thing you will not see is an orthodox icon of God the Father and that's because He is spirit and does not have eyes, ears or a body like we do. However we have countless icons of God the Son, Jesus Christ, and that is because He took flesh and was born of the Theotokos St. Mary.

Icons therefore affirm the Church's unwavering and foundational belief in the incarnation.

No attempt was made in the Old Testament to depict God's form, because how do you depict the One without form? We all have pictures of our Lord throughout our homes and in our Bibles because He was seen, heard and touched by the Holy Apostles.

When we see an icon of Our Lord we cannot help but kiss it because it represents the One whom we love because He first loved us and died for us.

The same is true for icons of the saints; in looking at them we see those whom we love and who love us in return. When we offer our kisses, incense or veneration to the icons, the praise is passed to those who are depicted in the holy images. It isn't the wood or paint that we are honoring, but those whom they depict.

Icons, unlike renaissance paintings, aren't focused on perspective, realism, or which colors are the most pleasant, but rather every aspect of the icon teaches us about the faith.

For example, in the icon of the Annunciation, Archangel Gabriel holds one wing out perpendicular to him, while the other is in the resting position, that is to remind us of his words to the Theotokos that "the power of the Highest will overshadow her." He also stands with feet slightly spread apart, to show that he is in movement, to deliver a message that is of the utmost importance. Even the colors in icons have meaning: white is purity, blue is heavenly, red is redemption by blood, gold is the heavens. Generally you only see our Lord surrounded by gold, because He dwells in the heavens, the only other person usually surrounded by gold is St. Mary, because she is the "Second Heaven."

Luckily our church didn't have to fight a movement called iconoclasm, whereas the Eastern Church did. This movement, based on Islamic tradition and religious thought, believed that any depiction of the Divine was wrong, since the Divine is undefinable and formless, which, to an extent, is correct. However, as we said earlier, in the incarnation of our Lord, the second person of the Holy Trinity took flesh and became confined to time and space for our sakes. Therefore in depicting Him, we affirm His incarnation and our salvation through Him.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

  • We read in the Old Testament that God forbade the Israelites from making and worshipping graven images, so why then do we have icons?
    • God is speaking specifically about idols. If we read a little further, we see that He instructs them to embroider golden cherubim on the veil of the Holy of Holies and also two cherubs facing each other with wings outstretched toward each other. This is where God would speak to the priest, also known as "the mercy seat." When King Solomon built the temple, it, too, contained two very large cherub statues.
  • What role does the incarnation play in our use of icons?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

When we have an icon and we pray in front of it and venerate it, that glory passes through to whomever is depicted in the holy image. It is good for each student to identify their favorite saint and to make sure they have an icon of them in their room.

SERVANT RESOURCES

Orthodox Icons: Are we worshiping graven images? by Fr. Anthony Mourad

What does the Church believe about icons and their use? by Fr. Anthony Mourad

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Parents are to help children set up a prayer table in their room and populate it with icons of saints that the student likes and connects to.