The religious icon: so dear to Orthodox Christians!
When we want to understand what the religious icons so dear to Christian Orthodoxy are, we must first look at the etymology.
Basically, the word “icon” literally means “image”. Concretely, we are talking here about images of a religious nature presenting figures such as that of Christ, the Virgin Mary or numerous saints.
It is therefore entirely logical that the primary purpose of a religious...
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The religious icon: so dear to Orthodox Christians!
When we want to understand what the religious icons so dear to Christian Orthodoxy are, we must first look at the etymology.
Basically, the word “icon” literally means “image”. Concretely, we are talking here about images of a religious nature presenting figures such as that of Christ, the Virgin Mary or numerous saints.
It is therefore entirely logical that the primary purpose of a religious icon is to transmit the doctrine and values of the faith. Like most Christian symbols you will find here, icons are powerful objects of piety used for conversion and the salvation of souls.
As a visual support, another of their objectives is simply to beautify our churches, our temples and our altars.
Icons aren't just beautiful. They also hide a very clear sacred side that impresses anyone who looks at them. Really.
For the Eastern Christian Church (or Orthodox Church), they are true works of sacred art which connect the faithful to the spirit and essence of the figures they represent.
When you look at a religious icon, you are actually practicing a kind of prayer, a symbiosis that you experience with what is most beautiful in religion.
