Icons & Sacred Art
62 writings in Icons & Sacred Art. Clear
Icons & Sacred Art
How do I properly venerate an icon?
You make the sign of the cross and bow twice, kiss the icon, and cross yourself once more. That’s the basic pattern. But let’s walk…
Icons & Sacred Art
Do I cross myself before or after venerating?
You cross yourself before and after. Twice before you kiss the icon, once after. That’s the basic pattern you’ll see at St. Michael and in…
Icons & Sacred Art
Why do people kiss icons?
We kiss icons to show love and honor to the person depicted. It’s not worship of wood and paint. The kiss goes through the image…
Icons & Sacred Art
What if I’m uncomfortable kissing icons?
That’s okay. You don’t have to kiss them until you’re ready. If you walk into St. Michael’s and see everyone kissing icons and you feel…
Icons & Sacred Art
Is it sanitary to kiss icons in church?
Yes, it’s generally safe. But if you’re sick, don’t do it. Understanding it means looking at what we’re actually doing when we kiss an icon,…
Icons & Sacred Art
Can I make my own icons?
Yes, you can. But iconography isn’t a craft project, it’s prayer. The Orthodox Church understands icons as theology in color and line. They’re not religious…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is icon mounting or corner arrangement?
An icon corner is a dedicated space in your home for prayer, typically set up in the eastern corner of a room with icons arranged…
Icons & Sacred Art
What other sacred art is used in Orthodox churches?
Walk into an Orthodox church and you’ll see icons everywhere. But icons aren’t the only sacred art we use. Frescoes cover the walls and dome.…
Icons & Sacred Art
What are frescoes?
Frescoes are paintings made directly into wet plaster. The pigments bond chemically with the wall as it dries, becoming part of the building itself. In…
Icons & Sacred Art
What are mosaics?
Mosaics are icons made from thousands of tiny pieces of colored glass, stone, or gold fitted together on walls, ceilings, and domes. They do the…
Icons & Sacred Art
What is the significance of church architecture?
An Orthodox church building isn’t just a meeting place. It’s an icon of heaven itself, designed to teach theology through space and beauty before a…
Icons & Sacred Art
Why are Orthodox churches often shaped like a cross?
They’re not always. But when they are, it’s because the Cross is where heaven and earth meet. Orthodox church architecture isn’t arbitrary. The building teaches.…
