Images that are not Icons?

[Orthodox Andrew]

Is it wrong to have images of saints in forms of art that are not Icons. Like these ones of St. Nicholas Czar-Martyr?
http://www.therussianshop.com/russhop/imperial/42632.jpg

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/liberal_arts/foreign/russian/art/serov-nicholas.jpg

[Matrona]

Photographs and oil paintings are both fine. The bust/sculpture/statue is something you'd probably be better off asking a priest about.

[Lotar]

They sell a bust of St. Nicholas similair to what you show at the ROCOR cathedral in San Francisco, so it seems like it'd be okay.

[Photini]

I'm sure they're fine. But not to venerate, of course.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Depends on what you are using those images for. They are not fine for veneration, but they are fine to have as artwork.

[Orthodox Andrew]

That clears it up. Thanks folks.:)

[Shubunkin]

You had me worried about my doll collection there for a while. :eek: ... however, they are simply on display as a collection. :)

[mae300]

As long as we aren't worshipping them and putting them before God.

[xristos.anesti]

As long as we aren't worshipping them and putting them before God.

Truth.

Well said.

[choirfiend]

Thank goodness we Orthodox don't worship images or put images before God! That would be bad indeed.

God is glorious in His saints!

[mae300]

A TV, job, or a computer can very easily become an idol...something we end up putting before God...so it isn't just statutes................

[Michael the Iconographer]

A TV, job, or a computer can very easily become an idol...something we end up putting before God...so it isn't just statutes................

One's particular jurisdiction has in many cases even become an idol, esp. when people make comments like "that is treason against the principles of my particular Orthodox jurisdiction." There are even some who make idols out of eggs by saying that only icons written in egg tempera are real icons.

[Llauralin]

You had me worried about my doll collection there for a while. :eek: ... however, they are simply on display as a collection. :)
Hehe, yeah, I make 3-D artwork, and was thinking what! No more figures!?!?! I'm not any good at painting, and so was a bit worried for a moment there.

*Is much relieved*

[Philip]

So, I can keep my driver's license, right?

[moses916]

haha ^_^

[Khaleas]

So, I can keep my driver's license, right?

You mean you ended up with driver's license picture worthy of worship??:bow:



;)

[fieldlily]

I'm sure they're fine. But not to venerate, of course.

:amen: It is like we can have a picture of a family member and not venerate it or we can have a bust of a famous musician and not venerate it.

However, icons are special pictures which Eastern Christians (and some others) venerate. I like to think of them as theology in color. They are stylized representations of Christ, the Theotokos (his mother), a Saint, or biblical scene which have been created by iconographers. The famous ones are usually very old, but we do have many iconographers today who are busy painting new icons.

I have an icon corner here in my house where I have three icons. One is a copy of the famous Rublev's Holy Trinity. It shows three angels (or the visitors to Abraham in the Old Testament) who are representative of the Trinity. Notice the Eucharist in the center.

Anyway, here is a thumbnail. If you click on it to enlarge you'll get a better picture.

birdfriend...:crosseo: