Jesus as Icon of God and Icons of Jesus Christ
Basic Info
In Orthodox or Eastern Tradition, a particular approach to “writing” images (icons) of Jesus is practiced today, in much the same way that it was a thousand years ago. Those who practice “icon writing” follow strict practices of fasting and praying in preparation for, and during, the making of the icon. The layering of gesso, paint, and gold leaf on a wooden panel is strictly prescribed, and the artist usually sticks close to the traditional composition of whichever icon is being created. The final step is writing the saint’s or Jesus’ name on the work; this is what makes it a sacred icon.
Icons tend to be either portraits of Jesus, Mary, or the saints; or festival icons depicting significant moments in Jesus’ life. The most common portrait of Christ in the icon tradition is as Pantocrator, or ruler of the world. Icons made in the traditional Orthodox way tend to appear flatter or less three-dimensional than people expect in a portrait today. This is related to the idea that what is depicted is the eternal or divine perspective rather than a human perspective.
These icons are understood share the same form as the prototype, who is understood to be dwelling eternally, now, with God the Father.
Historical Notes
In the 8th and 9th centuries, Christians fought long and hard (many monks were killed) over the question of whether it was okay to paint a picture of Jesus Christ. Another question was what role that image had in Christian worship after it was painted. One of the main arguments in favor of at least making icons of Jesus Christ was grounded in the idea that Jesus was himself an icon of God.
- The image ban in the Old Testament existed because it is impossible to use the elements of creation to capture or depict or represent God, the creator, who is infinite and beyond anything that a created image could capture or depict or represent.
- Later God chose to take on human form in Jesus’ Incarnation, complete with a human body that existed in space.
- Because Jesus’ human body could be seen by others, it was an image or visible manifestation of God.
It was a short step from there to the notion that if Jesus could be seen, he could be painted. A painting of Jesus, therefore, wasn’t so much a graven image in the idolatry sense of the Old Testament; it was more of a copy of the image God made of God’s self.
How to treat images of Jesus Christ, whether they should be venerated or honored in some way, was another question. The Seventh Ecumenical Council approved venerating the image or icon as a way to venerate or give honor to the person who was depicted in the icon, the prototype, but was clear that icons or images should not be worshipped as containing or being God, as that would be idolatry.
Though this kind of distinction was great in theory, over the years people ended up allowing more and more idolatry to creep into the way they treated icons. Many Protestant reformers in the sixteenth century thought that the easiest way to prevent such idolatry was to wipe out or destroy the images. The Catholic reformers thought that they just needed to police the practice better.
What to Look For
- Layered colors and gold leaf
- Variations in perspective (click the “Art” button below if you aren’t sure what “perspective” is)
- A look of flatness rather than depth
- Jesus Christ, Mary (the Theotokos or God bearer), other saints, events from the Gospels
- Lettering (often in Greek or Russian) in the piece itself that names who the person is
Questions to Focus a General Interpretation
An icon is meant to make present something that is hidden. An icon shares a form with that which it depicts. Who or what is made present by this icon? What does the form suggest about that who (which) is depicted?
Questions to Guide a Personal Interpretation
The icon tradition suggests that if an icon is found in a worship context, then it is a window to heaven and a link between Jesus (or the saint) dwelling eternally and the viewer. Do you feel moved to venerate or honor this link in some way? Do you feel comfortable presenting yourself before Jesus Christ or the saint through this link?
Questions to Suggest a Historical Interpretation
For many centuries and in some places still, an icon is considered the work of the Holy Spirit and that the person “writing” the icon is merely an instrument for the Holy Spirit, so the monk or other icon-writer either did not sign a name at all or signed the icon “by the hand of <their name>.” This is a practice of humility before God. Did the icon-writer sign this icon? If he or she did, what might have been going on when and where this was created that would have encouraged taking personal credit for a work? If the icon isn’t signed, what might have been going on to encourage humility?
