102 Ouspensky and Lossky. P. 54.
103 Quenot, 1991, p. 106.
104 Ouspensky, 1992, p. 178.
105 Coniaris, 1982, p. 173.
106 Ibid.
107 Ibid, p. 175.
108 Baggley, 1988, p. 83.
The spiritual nature of man was emphasized; the expression of the eyes was also changed. They were no longer the anxious eyes of a person looking with longing on the world dear to him which he was reluctant to leave. On the contrary, the eyes of the saints testified to the peace and contentment of one who has reached his Father’s home.”109
When the thumb and 4th finger are joined the upright index finger and the bent middle finger indicates the name IC. The thumb and the 4th finger crossed with the little finger beside indicate XC. IC and XC is an abbreviation for Jesus Christ.110 These written letters also often appear on the icon as part of the halo around Christ’s head. Generally, icons portray the person in a direct pose (not profile). This is because of the viewers need to interact with the icon. He/she in the icon interacts with us.111 The forehead is often large and high indicating the power of the spirit and of wisdom, inseparable from love.112 The nose is thin and elongated giving nobility to the face. It “…no longer detects the scents of this world, but only the sweet odor of Christ and the life-giving breath of the Spirit gushing from a throat and neck which are disproportionately large.”113 “The mouth, being an extremely sensual organ, is always drawn finely and geometrically, eliminating its sensuality… The lips remain closed, because true contemplation demands silence.”114 The body no longer needs nourishment. The ears tend to be interiorized. They no longer need to hear external things but only the “interior voice”.115 The absence of naturalism indicates a “…deafness to worldliness”.116
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