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Orthodox Iconography
Cavarnos, Constantine
76 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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May 12, 2021
someone who doesn’t “get” Orthodox icons? Need a book simply to provide a solid foundation for your own understanding of icons within the Church? Cavarnos serves it up.
For instance, with this introductory statement, “The art of authentic iconography is eminently deliberate, clear, precise, simple, objective, universal, spiritual” (41), Cavarnos leads us through a section expanding on those themes, including his thoughts on the beauty and liturgical use of icons, all of which then leads man into humility and towards theosis (our deification.)
The function of the icon in this regard is based on the principle that we become like that which we habitually contemplate. True icons focus the distracted, dispersed soul of man on spiritual perfection, on the divine. By dwelling steadily and lovingly on such perfection, we come to partake of it more and more. (33)
Throughout, Cavarnos offers us his personal reflections, as well an appreciation of the 20th century Greek iconographer Photios Kontoglou. Cavarnos rightly regards him as one of those responsible for the relatively recent recovery of the traditional creative and spiritual ethos around the icon and a return to the appreciation of the traditional Byzantine style of iconography. The book’s illustrations show icons of the same theme by ancient artists side-by-side with those of Kontoglou, demonstrating the latter’s embrace of the classical look and motifs.
Keeping with the introductory nature of the book, the appendices include authoritative statements regarding icons of St. John Damascene and the Seventh Ecumenical Synod, as well as a primer on the artistic techniques involved in creating icons as frescoes, panel paintings, and mosaics.
Orthodox Iconography provides everything needed to have a grounded and profound understanding of the place of icons within the Church and as instruments of our salvation.
Now inasmuch as icons teach us, remind us, lift us up to the prototypes, and arouse us to emulate the sacred persons and deeds depicted, they help us ‘brighten’ the divine image within us, they aid us in uncovering and developing the beauty of holiness. In other words, they help man attain likeness to God. (47)
For instance, with this introductory statement, “The art of authentic iconography is eminently deliberate, clear, precise, simple, objective, universal, spiritual” (41), Cavarnos leads us through a section expanding on those themes, including his thoughts on the beauty and liturgical use of icons, all of which then leads man into humility and towards theosis (our deification.)
The function of the icon in this regard is based on the principle that we become like that which we habitually contemplate. True icons focus the distracted, dispersed soul of man on spiritual perfection, on the divine. By dwelling steadily and lovingly on such perfection, we come to partake of it more and more. (33)
Throughout, Cavarnos offers us his personal reflections, as well an appreciation of the 20th century Greek iconographer Photios Kontoglou. Cavarnos rightly regards him as one of those responsible for the relatively recent recovery of the traditional creative and spiritual ethos around the icon and a return to the appreciation of the traditional Byzantine style of iconography. The book’s illustrations show icons of the same theme by ancient artists side-by-side with those of Kontoglou, demonstrating the latter’s embrace of the classical look and motifs.
Keeping with the introductory nature of the book, the appendices include authoritative statements regarding icons of St. John Damascene and the Seventh Ecumenical Synod, as well as a primer on the artistic techniques involved in creating icons as frescoes, panel paintings, and mosaics.
Orthodox Iconography provides everything needed to have a grounded and profound understanding of the place of icons within the Church and as instruments of our salvation.
Now inasmuch as icons teach us, remind us, lift us up to the prototypes, and arouse us to emulate the sacred persons and deeds depicted, they help us ‘brighten’ the divine image within us, they aid us in uncovering and developing the beauty of holiness. In other words, they help man attain likeness to God. (47)
Displaying 1 of 1 review