123 Freiedrich Rest. Our Christian Symbols. (Piladelphia, PA: The Christian Education Press., 1954), p. 26.
124 Zibawi, 1993, p. 45.
125 Ouspensky and Lossky, 1983, p. 73.
126 Christ, our Lord. 16th century icon, monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai (Ellopos Gallery)
Another example of an icon of Christ is this crucifixion icon. Note the footrest and name plate that is always a part of the Orthodox cross. Also, note that Christ is not hanging on the cross but standing. He exemplifies transcendence above the physical pain of the cross.
There are also many icons of Mary, the mother of Christ. The Orthodox call Mary “Theotokos” which means “mother of God”. Some examples of icons of Mary include: Our Lady of the Sign – upraised hands, posture of prayer; The Hodigitria – similar looking to Our Lady…; The Smolensk – another version of Theotokos; The Tichvine Mother of God; The Kazan Mother of God – ; The Mother Of God Enthroned.128 The example here is the Theotokos.129
128 Ouspensky and Lossky, 1983, p. 77-89.
129 Mother of God enthroned. Athos, 16th century (from Ellopos Photo Blog).
Another category of icons are the Icons of Loving Kindness. These demonstrate the affection between Mary and the Christ child.130 Some examples are: The Vladimir Mother of God – 11th or 12th century; The Tolga Mother of God – 14th century; The Korsun Mother of God – strongly bent head of Mary and Christ (Mary bent down, Christ up); and The Mother of God of the Passion.
130 Ouspensky and Lossky, 1983, p. 92-100.
Other common icons include important biblical characters like St. John the Forerunner (John the Baptizer) and the apostles. In addition, many of the important leaders of the church are portrayed in icons. St. John the Forerunner is portrayed in the following example.131
The Iconostasis
A dominant feature of an established Orthodox church is the Iconostasis or Icon wall. This is a wall of icons that separates the nave (where the people participate in worship) and the sanctuary (only accessible by the priest). The term iconostasis simply means a partition covered with icons.
131 Icon of St. John the Baptist, made in Greece 1993 (Ellopos Photo Blog)
It attained its classical form in the fifteenth century. In the churches of early Christianity, there was a low screen or wall. Over time, more icons were added, resulting in a larger wall.132 While the first impression one has is that the Iconostasis is a wall, this is a misunderstanding. It is not a barrier but a series of windows. Its purpose is not to block but to bring light into. This is the idea of mystery “perceived not by human eyes”.133 In Russia, the iconostasis was merely a low wall in the 14th and 15th centuries but in the 16th century, “…attains spectacular dimensions.”134 Early Iconostasis were low. A man could lean on it and look in, making the sanctuary both visible but also inaccessible.135
Basically, the iconostasis tells the story of how we are able to directly approach the holy of holies. Though it appears as a barrier, the icons are meant to be windows to the truth, more than a wall separating us from this truth. It opens the door to the faithful.136 “The iconostasis therefore has more than merely a didactic meaning. It represents the ontological link between sacrament and image, and shows this glorious body of Christ, the same real body given in the Eucharist and represented on the icon.”137
