Icons & Sacred Art
62 writings in Icons & Sacred Art. Clear
Icons & Sacred Art
What does MP OY (Meter Theou) mean?
MP ΘY is Greek shorthand for Μήτηρ Θεοῦ, Mother of God. You’ll see these letters on icons of the Virgin Mary, usually positioned near her…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is an icon prototype?
The prototype is the actual person the icon depicts. When you venerate an icon of Christ, you’re honoring Christ himself, not the wood and paint.…
Icons & Sacred Art
Are some icons miraculous?
Yes. Some icons are miraculous. But we need to be careful what we mean by that. The power isn’t in the wood or paint. It’s…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is a wonderworking icon?
A wonderworking icon is an icon through which God has chosen to work miracles. That’s it. The icon itself doesn’t possess power, God acts through…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is a myrrh-streaming icon?
A myrrh-streaming icon is an icon that produces fragrant oil. The oil appears on the painted surface, sometimes as droplets, sometimes as a visible flow…
Icons & Sacred Art
What are some famous Orthodox icons?
Walk into any Orthodox church and you’ll see icons everywhere. But a few stand out across the centuries as particularly beloved and widely venerated. Let’s…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is the Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos?
The Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos is one of the most beloved icons in all of Orthodoxy. It shows the Mother of God holding the…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is the Kazan Icon?
The Kazan Icon is one of the most beloved images of the Theotokos in the Orthodox Church. It shows the Mother of God holding the…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is the icon of the Holy Trinity by Rublev?
Rublev’s Trinity is the most famous icon in Orthodox Christianity. It shows three angels seated at a table, based on Genesis 18 when three mysterious…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is a festal icon?
A festal icon depicts a specific feast of the Church, usually one of the twelve great feasts of Christ or the Theotokos. It’s not a…
Icons & Sacred Art
How do I choose icons for my home?
Start with three: Christ, the Theotokos, and a cross. That’s it. You don’t need a collection to begin. Your icon corner isn’t about decorating. It’s…
Icons & Sacred Art
Where should icons be placed in my home?
Put them where your family will actually pray. The traditional practice is to create an icon corner in a common area of your home, usually…
