IMAGE AND LIKENESS: HOW TO READ AN

Explore Membership & Retreat Redeemer Anglican November 22, 2016 BACKGROUND What is an icon?

• Greek = “image” • Specialized meaning = images used in the worship and life of the Eastern Image vs. idol

• Two different Hebrew words translated as “image” • Tselem • So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him (Genesis 1:28) • Greek translation (Septuagint) = icon • Fesel • You shall not make for yourself a carved image (Exodus 20:4) • Greek translation (Septuagint) = idolon • Distinction • Icon = true image • Idol = false image

Scope of presentation

• Icon = “image” • Specialized use – traditional images of the Eastern Church

Jewish practice

• Basic prohibition (Exodus 20:4) • • No images of God (inherently “false”) • Other Images used • Cherubim in • Oxen under the bronze sea in the • Later Jewish practice • Decoration in synagogues Images at synagogue in Dura-Europos Images at Dura-Europos (close-up) Earliest Christian images

• Pagan images given a Christian interpretation • Hermes the patron of shepherds = the good shepherd • Old Testament scenes with Christian implications • Hermes the shepherd Jonah (catacombs) Later early Christian images

• Symbols and New Testament scenes • Vine • Loaves and fish • Magi

Vine (catacombs) Loaves and fish (catacombs) Loaves and fish () Magi (catacombs) Images after Constantine

• Traditional imperial motifs reinvested with Christian meanings • The philosopher • The apotheosis of the emperor • Imperial entry • The emperor in his court Philosopher → Jesus the teacher Apotheosis of the emperor → ascension Imperial entry → Emperor in his court → heavenly court Jesus as beardless young man

• East • Through the 6th century • West • Through the 12th century

Profusion of images: 6th and 7th centuries

• Modeled on use of imperial image for legal purposes

Iconoclastic controversy (726-843)

• Arguments against images • Old Testament prohibition • Any image of Christ is necessarily false • We can only see Christ’s human nature

Iconoclastic controversy (cont.)

• Arguments for images • Old Testament prohibits false images • All images of God were false prior to the incarnation • The image of the incarnate Christ is true • Jesus’ humanity cannot be separated from his divinity • Jesus to Phillip at the • History of use in worship (application of “lex orandi”) • Instructional • “Books for those who cannot read” Nicaea II – vindication of images

• Midway through controversy • Adopted in East in 843 (Feast of , March 11) • West accepts use of images, but with reservations Subsequent history

• East • Part of liturgy • Highly regulated • West • Instructional and decorative • Open to artistic interpretation Key characteristics

• Theoretical anti-naturalism (point to heavenly realities) • Premium on doctrine over historicity • Stylistic conventions

Theoretical anti-naturalism

• Inverted perspective • Psychological perspective • Standard gold/blue backgrounds

Inverted perspective

Table Psychological perspective

Small figure Standard gold background Standard blue background Premium on doctrine over historicity

• Symbolic alterations of historical scenes • Single presentation that mixes different times and places

Symbolic alterations

Fish at Last Supper Different times and places

Journey of magi Announcement to shepherds

Bathing of Pondering of Baby Jesus Joseph Stylistic conventions

• Halo = understanding • No natural source of light (sun/moon) or shadows • Draperies = indoors • Both eyes forward (vs. profile) • Stylized features

Halo = understanding

Lazarus has halo Apostles do not Yet have haloes Draperies = indoors Both eyes forward Stylized features

High forehead = intelligence

Tight lips = asceticism Pre-iconoclastic

• Few survive • Best examples from St. Catherine’s at Mt. Sinai • Modeled on Roman-Egyptian portraits Roman Egyptian portrait Sinai Pantocrator Mary (Sinai) Peter (Sinai) Location of icons

• Primarily for use in liturgy • Best understood in context of their placement in an Eastern Church PLAN OF AN EASTERN CHURCH

Temple pattern Facing East Comparison

Temple Church

• Outer courts • • Holy Place • • • • Holy of Holies • Floor plan View from Narthex toward sanctuary From sanctuary to iconostasis Through open doors of iconostasis Altar proper (within altar area) CHRIST THE TEACHER/DOOR

Entry to Key elements

• Greek abbreviation for “Jesus Christ” • Abbreviation sign = • Modified terminal sigma = “c” • Cross within halo • “The one who is” = ‘o wn • Open book • Position of fingers • Blue over red Initials for Jesus (IC) Christ (XC) Abbreviation sign = Cross inscribed into halo “The One Who Is” = Ό ώΝ Open book Position of fingers

Combination 2 + 3

X + C Blue over red CHRIST THE ALMIGHTY (PANTOCRATOR)

Inside top of dome Key elements

• Rising from East • Churches traditionally faced East • Christ the rising sun of righteousness • Jewish practice = pray toward Jerusalem (Eastern wall of Synagogue) • Rainbow (Revelation 4:1-3) • Stern/impassive aspect (Father through Son) • Closed book (generally) • Alternate position (if no dome) Rainbow Stern/impassive aspect Closed book

Alternative position (if no dome) Iconostasis

• Separates sanctuary from “altar” • Temple curtain separating “holy place” from the “holy of holies” • Development on screen • Developed from barrier in law courts • Becomes a “ screen” in the West (“rood” = cross) • Reminder of our participation in the heavenly liturgy • [Detailed review later] Original chancel screen (waste level) Development into open “” Addition of icons Gradually closed WIDER THAN THE HEAVENS (PLATYTERA)

Apse Key elements

• Position between heaven and earth • Mary typically in “orans” position • Represents Church • Greek abbreviation for “Mother of God” • Three starts = perpetual virginity • Christ in front of Mary • Often in mandorla • Often on throne • Often adult features Position between heaven and earth Hands in “orans” position Abbreviations for “Mother of God” Three stars = perpetual virginity Christ with adult features (optional) Mandorla around Christ

Overall arrangement

• We approach the Father only through Jesus • Christ the Teacher/Door • The Church militant (the living) joins with the Church triumphant (the faithful departed) • Iconostasis • And as one Church we transcend this world • “Wider than the Heavens” • Praying to the Father through the Son • Pantocrator = “rule of all”

DORMITION (DEATH OF MARY)

Exit to Narthex

THE

Exit from Narthex

DETAIL OF ICONOSTASIS Iconostasis

• Number of levels differs • Russian – up to five levels • Greek - up to four levels, typically less • Desire not to block view of “Wider than the Heavens”

Greek Iconostasis - levels

Deisis level

Festal icons

Sovereign level Russian iconostasis

Patriarchs

Prophets

Festal icons

Deisis

Sovereign level Sovereign level

• Holy Doors • Annunciation/evangelists/hierarchs • North (Mary with child, ) • South (Jesus, ) • doors • Angels • Saints who were (Stephen and Romanos) • Soldier saints (George and Demetrios) Annunciation/evangelists Annunciation/evangelists Annunciation/evangelists Annunciation Evangelists (detail) St. Basil/St. John the Baptist (wings = messenger)