Symbolism Part 2

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to teach seventh graders about the details and symbolism of various aspects of the Church. The students will learn about how all features and details that are found in the church, such as the vessels, architecture, hymnology, iconography, etc., have deep spiritual meanings beyond what we can observe with our senses. When we understand the symbolism of the details, we are able to appreciate the traditions of our Church. In this lesson, we will take a closer look at Coptic art and iconography, as well as the Iconostasis in the Church building.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 2 Minutes

At the beginning of class, play "Bible Pictionary" either using a board/paper, or the whiteboard feature on Zoom. The following are examples of ideas for the students to draw (one student draws, while the others guess what they are drawing).

  • 10 commandments, Jonah, Noah, Jesus born, Jesus baptized, Zacceus, Daniel, David & Goliath, etc.

The objective of this hook activity is to introduce the students to the concept of why certain features are included in an image, similar to how icon writers include certain features in their icons to tell a certain story.

Explain that in this lesson, we will continue exploring how the Church uses symbolism and how all the details in the Church are not random, but carefully placed. This lesson will focus on 2 aspects:

  1. Icons
  2. Iconostasis

Relevant passages from the Holy Bible can be found throughout the lesson.

To facilitate this lesson, please use a screen to display the slideshow attached at the end of the lesson. The sections below correspond to the slides. If a screen/device is not available, slides/images can be printed prior to the lesson.

ICONS - 25 minutes

Begin this section by having students watch the following video: "What does the Church believe about icons and their use?"

Using slide 2, explain that Icons are not just pictures or decoration, but they actually must be consecrated before use in church.

  • The Bishop performs a special rite called the Prayer of Dedication or Consecration and anoints the icon with Myron. The Bishop breathes onto it the breath of the Holy Spirit. With this ritual, the Icon becomes holy and should be honored and respected. Icons express our faith.
  • For this reason, we say that icons are "written" not "drawn."
  • See Prayer for the Consecration of Icons on slide 3

In the next few slides, general and specific characteristics of icons will be discussed:

What Icons Symbolize and Emphasize: (Slide 4)

  • The Life of joy
    • We do not have icons of Hades but of heaven and the saints.
    • We do not draw the pains of martyrs, but their glory.
  • Victory over death
    • Even when the devil is drawn, he is in a small size or underfoot
  • The Spirit of love
    • Saint Mary as the mother of God, Jesus as a child.
  • The power of the Spirit
    • In icons, the proportions are very poor. The head is big and the eyes are wide. The Coptic artist does not want to show the bodily strength but the inner spirit and eyes.
  • God the Father is not depicted in icons, since He is unseen

Unique Features in How Icons are Written (Slides 5-8)

  • Coptic Icons are two-dimensional
  • Gold background represents Heaven
  • Haloes are shown as circles around the head
    • Symbol of being the light of the world.
    • The halo around Jesus is unique with an embedded cross
  • Sizes are disproportionate
    • Jesus is larger than others. Satan is depicted as small. Eyes and ears are large, mouths are small.
  • Clothes are usually white & red for holiness. Green usually represents evil
  • Direction of the face
    • Faces are either facing forward, or towards Jesus. Evil is depicted with no halo, green color, and side face (can't see both eyes/ears)
  • Items and details in icons tell about the type or category of saints and events in their life.
    • Items in their hands, items in the background, etc.

Next, we will go through the different categories of saints and their features (slides 9-13)

  • Apostles
    • They wear: Shown wearing a cloak, usually yellow, signifying the great mission they accomplished, or red, symbolizing their martyrdom.
    • They hold: A scroll or a book. The 4 evangelists hold a book, while the Apostles who preached or wrote other texts hold scrolls.
  • Prophets
    • They wear: Usually shown dressed according to their social status on earth, or in a scene from their life. For example, David and Solomon are dressed like kings, and Jonah is shown with a large fish.
    • They hold: Open scrolls, with an excerpt from their prophecies. As with other Saints, they may also be holding the instrument of their salvation.
  • Martyrs
    • They wear: Sometimes shown wearing red clothing, which signifies their blood that was shed for the love of Christ. They are also usually shown with a crown of martyrdom.
    • They hold: A cross symbolizing where their strength came from, and/or palm branches. as a symbol of their entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. They may also hold the instruments of their martyrdom. If they are soldier martyrs, they usually hold their weapons.
  • Fathers/Hierarchs
    • They wear: Clergy vestments, often decorated with crosses.
    • They hold: A Gospel book or scroll, because they followed and preached the Word of God through the Gospels.
  • Monastics
    • They wear: Their dark monastic habit, usually hooded.
    • They hold: Monastics may hold a prayer rope or a cross or staff, which symbolizes the cross they bear in their spiritual struggle. They may also hold a scroll, open or closed

We can tell much about a saint based on what they are wearing and holding in an icon, in addition to other unique features which tell us about details from their life. To summarize, every detail in an icon is symbolic and has a meaning. Each Icon tells us a story related to salvation.

  • "If a pagan asks you to show him your faith, take him into church and place him before the icons." -John of Damascus

ICONOSTASIS - 10 minutes

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord" Psalm 84:1-2

Biblical Basis of the Iconostasis (Slide 17)

  • When Lord ordered Moses to set the Tabernacle, He ordered Moses to set two curtains of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool (Exodus 26).
    • One separates between the house and the Holy
    • The second separates between the Holy and the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9).
    • In addition to these, there was another curtain which separated the house of Israelites and that of Gentiles and the Roman soldiers.

Church Structure (Slide 18)

The structure of our church is modeled after these guidelines given to Moses. The church is divided into 3 parts: sanctuary, nave, and vestibule.

  1. The vestibule is the first area of the Church when entering the structure
  2. The nave is the main body of the Church where the people gather for worship.
  3. The sanctuary is the most important division of the Church where the Holy Altar is located. Heaven (represented by the sanctuary) and earth (represented by the nave) are brought together by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The sanctuary and the nave are divided by the screen of icons called iconostasis.

  • The icons on the iconostasis are use to help the faithful focus on prayer
  • Everyone in the congregation should fix his eyes on the Lord - "When I am lifted up from the earth I will draw everyone to me" (John 12:32).

Characteristics of the Iconostasis (Slide 19)

  • In Greek, means "a place on which the icons stand" - usually made of wood, marble or stone
  • It has three doors
    • Center door - called the "Royal Door"
      • A symbol of the passage between Heaven and Earth.
      • Only the patriarch, bishops, and deacons accompanied by the priest may pass through the Royal Doors because of it's great holiness
    • Two single doors on each side - called "Deacons Doors"
    • Each door has a curtain decorated with crosses or the picture of the patron saint of the church or the saint after which the altar is named.
  • The icons on the iconostasis are not random, but have a specific order (see next section)
  • Ostrich eggs are suspended above the royal door representing resurrection
  • In older churches, lighted oil lamps are hung in front of all the icons, except Christ, because He is the light of the world.

The Order of Icons (Slide 20)

  • At the highest point of the iconostasis there is a large crucifix with a painted image of the Lord Jesus Christ Crucifixion with the two thieves
  • Beside the picture of the Crucifixion are pictures of St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Beloved
  • Below the Crucifix - icon of the Last Supper.
  • On the same level of the Last Supper - Icons of the 12 apostles
  • On the right side of the Royal door are 4 icons: (from left to right)
    • Icon of our Lord Jesus Christ
    • St. John the Baptist
    • Patron Saint of the Church
    • Saint or Martyr
  • On the left side of the Royal doors (From right to left)
    • Icon of St. Mary the Theotokos
    • The Annunciation
    • Archangel Michael
    • St. Mark the Evangelist

APPLICATION (Action) - 5 Minutes

Quiz the students with the following questions:

  1. The icon of the Theotokos should be hung to the side of the Royal Door, which would be on the of Christ's facing the congregation, because she is the Queen sitting next to the King.
  2. Where on the Iconostasis should the icon of the Last Supper be mounted?
  3. Who can use the Royal door to enter or exit the Sanctuary? (Name all that apply)

Next, using slide 21, have students name which icon corresponds to each number on the iconostasis from memory.

CONCLUSION - 2 Minutes

Once again, emphasize the concept that all of these details in the icons and in the structure of our Church have spiritual meanings beyond what we can observe with our senses, and that these meanings are intended to help us to come closer to God as we partake in the liturgy. Icons and the iconostasis are not just decoration for the Church; they contain biblical messages. Through simple colors, the icon gives us an explanation of the bible and helps us get closer to eternal life.

ACTIVITY - 5-10 Minutes

Using the template in Printable Activities, have the students create their own iconostasis (or one iconostasis as a class) by cutting and pasting printed icons.

RESOURCES

  • Optional Video - "Orthodox Icons: Are we worshiping graven images? by Fr. Anthony Mourad"

  • Descriptions of specific icons. The last paragraph under each saint describes the details of each icon and its symbolism

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Have the students place the iconostasis they have made in their home prayer corner.

Pray the following prayer with your children on the way to Church:

O Lord, I thank You for giving us part of heaven on earth. I ask You to please remind me every time I go inside Your Church that I am in a part of heaven that You left for us on earth. Please teach me how to fear Your place and respect it. Teach me how to love Your house and love all the details You gave us in its structure. Please show me how to benefit from all the details in the church and how to make them a way that I can see You in them.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 7 Week 2 Activity (Liturgy).pdf

Grade 7 Week 2 Slideshow (Liturgy).pdf