CHRISTIAN
EMPIRE – AD 313-476
IV.
THE SYMBOLIC WAY
Christian customs in two broad geographical regions gradually became distinct. Churches in what had been the western half of the Roman Empire (centered around Rome, where Latin became the language of the church) developed church government and worship structures quite different from those that arose in what had been the eastern half of the Roman Empire (centered on Constantinople, where Greek remained the primary language of the church). Today, the descendents of the eastern church are known as 'Orthodox' Christians. (Constantinople was also known as Byzantium; thus this era is often called the Byzantine period.)
Leaders within the
western church valued two and three dimensional works of art within their
churches. The eastern church, however, rejected three-dimensional art (statues)
and for a while questioned even the appropriateness
of 'icons,'
two-dimensional portrayals of God and figures from earlier Christian
history. Those desiring to use icons claimed that people could best know and
worship God if they used their senses, as well as their minds. In time, this
group prevailed over those who wished to destroy the icons.
John of
Eastern Christians see icons as 'windows into eternity.' Icons are not worshipped or venerated for themselves. But, at the same time, Orthodox believers see icons as means by which they can enter the dimensions of sacred time and space. Icons provide a visual ‘object lesson’ of Biblical events.
For
more information, see The Study of Spirituality,
edited by Cheslyn Jones, Geoffery Wainwright and Edward Yarnold. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1986,
p.
?~~Questions~~
Related to the Symbolic Way
-
What unique factors helped shape the Orthodox Church in the centuries before the year 1,000. A.D.
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In ancient times, where was the Orthodox Church strongest? What about today?
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Who are some revered leaders of the Orthodox Church through its history?
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Look at some icon website. How do you assess icons as art?
-
Learn what you can about the
methods used in painting icons. How long does it take
to paint a typical icon? In what regions are icons still being painted? -
What is your emotional response to the visual message of icons?
-
On which side of that ancient debate would you have stood regarding the use of icons in worship?
-
Through which of your five senses do you most often sense God speaking to you?
ICONS
Using one of the
websites listed below, find an icon that
appeals to you and spend ten minutes studying
it. Allow this icon to become a window into heaven for you.
Don’t try to make anything spiritual happen, but notice your thoughts
and emotional responses. Whatever
surfaces, take that to prayer and
quietly end your meditation.
Note: if you find
yourself drawn to icons, your local library would have books for you to see more
biblical material, especially the life of Christ in
iconic painting.
URL Websites
on icons:
Here's a link to a website that offers introductory information on icons.
To view a webpage with links to many icons, click here.
To view a page with fewer icons, but ones you can view in larger size, click here.
To read documents written by John of Damascus, arguing for the use of icons in Christian worship, click here.
For a Greek Ministry of Culture site that shows icons and many other forms of ancient eastern Christian art, click here.
For a broad selection of links to Byzantine life and history, click here.
For a broad selection of links to the contemporary Orthodox Church, click here, or here.