Icon Faq

[Michael the Iconographer]

Ok, here it goes. I am in the process of building my own site for my personal iconography and part of it will be an icon faq. I will be posting about one frequently asked question about iconography a week, maybe 2 the first few weeks it is up. I collected a number of faq's on iconography a number of years ago on here but am looking for more. So here is your chance to post any questions you might have about iconography. I can't gaurantee the order I will get to them or the speed at which I will reply to them, but your assistance in helping me gather a number of good faq's is greatly appreciated. Again, thank you.

[SeraphimSarov]

This is probably way too broad, but how does one tell a canonical icon from something that is non-canonical?

[wynd]

What does it mean that icons are "windows into heaven?"

[Shubunkin]

I was told that a saint holding a cross is a martyr, and then there are saints holding a church building. Do the colors mean anything? Do these consistently mean anything? I was wondering....

[Michael the Iconographer]

Thank you. If anyone else has any questions they want to ask feel free to ask away.

[Hoankan]

How would one go about searching for specific, hard to find icons?

[TrueHope]

For all the doubters...here is a doozy...(For those who claim Orthodoxy is paganism)

How is venerating an icon not idol worship?

[Michael the Iconographer]

For all the doubters...here is a doozy...(For those who claim Orthodoxy is paganism)

How is venerating an icon not idol worship?
Nothing like asking loaded questions, lol!

Thank you all. Any other questions?

[jckstraw72]

why does Christ wear orange as an infant?

[marvmax]

Micheal;
When do we get to see the answers? Are you going to post a link to the answers as you work them out?

Are there canonical and non-canonical icons. If so what is the difference.

[disasm]

A couple I I asked someone else, and already got answers for. What do the different facial features represent? And also, What does it mean if they hold a cross in their hand?

[Michael the Iconographer]

Micheal;
When do we get to see the answers? Are you going to post a link to the answers as you work them out?

Are there canonical and non-canonical icons. If so what is the difference.
The answers will be posted about one or two a week on my personal website, which is still in the process of being built. The site is about 1/3 of what it will be when done. The site is www.michaelgoltzicons.com

[Michael the Iconographer]

Thank you. The questions you are all asking are very good and I encourage everyone to continue to ask any questions they might have.

[marvmax]

The answers will be posted about one or two a week on my personal website, which is still in the process of being built. The site is about 1/3 of what it will be when done. The site is www.michaelgoltzicons.com (http://www.michaelgoltzicons.com)
Great site. Can't wait till it gets done. Your icons are beautiful. I especially like being able to read the writing in the icons.

[ma2000]

What are the differences between the different schools of Iconography? For example, Byzantine vs Russian.

[Shubunkin]

What does the circle of yellow/gold around everyone's head mean? (I know the answer, but it's a good question, I think) :)

[Shubunkin]

I really like your site, Michael. :thumbsup: Great design and all that. Excellent start.

[fuerein]

Maybe explain the hand signs of the people.

[SeraphimSarov]

What are the differences between the different schools of Iconography? For example, Byzantine vs Russian.
DITTO!

[SeekingTheLight]

I have some questions that I've been dying to ask.

1. Why does the baby Jesus that Mary holds on her lap always look like a "little man?" (I mean, he hardly ever looks like a child - more like a small adult).

2. I've heard that "black" is never used when writing an Icon. Is this true, and if so why?

3. Why aren't Icons ever smiling? (Maybe they're too serious?)

If I think of anymore, I'll post them.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Thank you all.

[TrueHope]

What does the circle of yellow/gold around everyone's head mean? (I know the answer, but it's a good question, I think) :)
Yes, this is an excellent question, because so many people say it is St. Constantine's version of continuing worship of the "Sun God". Meaning, he infiltrated paganism into Orthodoxy... (Yup, that's me...full of loaded ones! ;) )

[TrueHope]

PS...Your site is GREAT!!!!!!!!! I am quite impressed!

[Michael the Iconographer]

PS...Your site is GREAT!!!!!!!!! I am quite impressed!
Thank you, as I have said, it is really only about 1/3 or 1/4 complete. There is alot more to come.

[Michael the Iconographer]

What does the circle of yellow/gold around everyone's head mean? (I know the answer, but it's a good question, I think) :)
That is actually alot better a question than you give it credit for. A good friend of mine who has a very deep spiritual life didn't know what a halo/nimbus represented until I explained it to her.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Thank you all. Any other questions are more than welcome.

[Protoevangel]

I understand that when a martyr is depicted, they are holding a cross or a weapon (the instrument of their martyrdom). But I also see Angels holding crosses & weapons. Are there any other exceptions (when a non-martyr may carry an item)?
Are the saints depicted on the icons always people who actually existed? i.e. There is an icon of Adan and Eve. Does this mean the Orthodox Church "officially" believes that Adam and Eve truly existed? (I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one, but a question in another thread prompted me to submit this question.)

[Michael the Iconographer]

I understand that when a martyr is depicted, they are holding a cross or a weapon (the instrument of their martyrdom). But I also see Angels holding crosses & weapons. Are there any other exceptions (when a non-martyr may carry an item)?
Are the saints depicted on the icons always people who actually existed? i.e. There is an icon of Adan and Eve. Does this mean the Orthodox Church "officially" believes that Adam and Eve truly existed? (I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one, but a question in another thread prompted me to submit this question.)
If #2 was the case, why are there icons of a "guardian angel" which is a generic form representing the multitude of guardian angels. Icons of Adam and Eve are in no way saying what the Church teaches on the subject.

Ok, now back to the FAQ. No derailing this thread.

[Nichole]

OK...........very nice website! I especially like when something is wrote......it is in the English (like if one is holding the Bible and instead of Greek......it's English)! We have icons that we had my godparents (they are Greek) read for us. LOL! Anyway..........nice website! Ohhh.......sticking to the subject. Hummm..........no questions I can think of. :)

[Michael the Iconographer]

OK...........very nice website! I especially like when something is wrote......it is in the English (like if one is holding the Bible and instead of Greek......it's English)! We have icons that we had my godparents (they are Greek) read for us. LOL! Anyway..........nice website! Ohhh.......sticking to the subject. Hummm..........no questions I can think of. :)
To me it is very important for someone to be able to read the inscription on the icon. The Orthodox Church is a vernacular church, it always has been. Thus what good does it do for one to have a really well written icon and have the inscription in Russian and Greek when the viewers of the icon primarily speak English. You will see on my site there are only a few icons inscribed in a foreign language and each time they are it is because the person who asked for the icon requested they be done so.

[Protoevangel]

No derailing this thread.
:tutu:

[Michael the Iconographer]

:tutu:
Anyone who has been arround TAW for a number of years will tell you I co-authored the book on how to derail threads.

Back to the OP, anyone else have any other questions they want to ask?

[Michael the Iconographer]

To me it is very important for someone to be able to read the inscription on the icon. The Orthodox Church is a vernacular church, it always has been. Thus what good does it do for one to have a really well written icon and have the inscription in Russian and Greek when the viewers of the icon primarily speak English. You will see on my site there are only a few icons inscribed in a foreign language and each time they are it is because the person who asked for the icon requested they be done so.
I answered this statement on the FAQ almost immediately because it makes a point that I think everyone should read.

[Shubunkin]

Another obvious one, which is more into general questions about Orthodoxy, is the significance of the three-bar cross. People always seem to ask that one.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Another obvious one, which is more into general questions about Orthodoxy, is the significance of the three-bar cross. People always seem to ask that one.
That one is obvious, but is a really good subject to deal with. I could almost write an entire paper on the subject, especially the way I write the cross with the Holy Mandylion of Edessa above the cross and the grave with the bones of Adam below the cross.

[choirfiend]

Great site. Can't wait till it gets done. Your icons are beautiful. I especially like being able to read the writing in the icons.
There are lots of lots of really good icons that have the lettering written in English. It's a shame you haven't seen any yet.

But what does it matter if it's greek or russian? That means the people who looked at them first spoke those languages. They're pretty easy to sound out once you know a few letters, too.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Great site. Can't wait till it gets done. Your icons are beautiful. I especially like being able to read the writing in the icons.
Thank you.