The Icon in East and West

The Orthodox Church does not rely on intellectualism, rationalism or moralism, but on the revelational experience of the Prophets, Apostles and Holy Fathers.

The Icon of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos

We shall continue with our lessons on the theology of icons, with the depiction of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. The event of the Annunciation is described in Luke’s Gospel, in which the Evangelist describes numerous events that are linked to the Theotokos, and especially to the birth of Christ. The birth of Christ is also described by Matthew the Evangelist, but the details that pertain to these events are described by Luke, who had met the Theotokos in person and had learnt of those events – for example of the Annunciation – directly from the Holy Mother.

The Fourth Image of Christ Not Made by Hands

Today (August 11), my beloved brethren, our holy Church honors, praises and venerates the fourth image of our Lord Jesus Christ not made by hands (acheiropoieton). These images of the Lord are called “not made by hands” because they were not formed by human hands, but in a miraculous manner they were given by the Lord Himself. The first image not made by hands was sent by our Lord to the local ruler of Edessa named Abgar, on a handkerchief that He had wiped His face on, in order to heal him of the leprosy of his body, which left him isolated in his palace. The miracle took place, it is celebrated on August 16th, and the image is known as the Holy Mandylion.

15th Century Orthodox Frescoes identified in Poland

February 29, 2012 Associated Press   Frescoes discovered on the walls of an Orthodox Church in Poland have been identified as 15th-century art works, and funds are being raised to restore them. Art historian Jaroslaw Giemza said Tuesday that recent research on the frescoes at the ancient church in the eastern village of Posada Rybotycka […]

The Church’s iconology

The Charismatic presence of the Prototype in the Icon that represents it according to the Church’s Iconology. by Demetrios Tselengidis, Professor of the Theological School of the Aristotelian University of Thessalonica The charismatic presence of the prototype in the icon that represents it is a truth of the Church that is clearly formulated in the […]