I'm inclined to agree with what Bob posted a few days ago - this thread has run its course. Monastery Icons as a topic is becoming the focus of this sub-forum and that is not acceptable.
The subject is important and, when the topic again arises, I'm more than willing to resurrect the thread to help newcomers understand why we view MI as an unacceptable source for icons. However, that being established, there are hundreds of topics related to iconography, iconic media, iconographers, and icons (including some topics that have arisen tangentially in the course of this thread) which are effectively neglected when the attention of those visiting this sub-forum is hijacked by this thread. I'd much prefer that we devote bandwidth to those.
So, I'm closing the thread. I invite anyone who comes across new info regarding MI or has additional questions regarding MI to bring the matters to my attention or the attention of any of several others here who have a long-standing history of MI-watching. I am confident that they'll be addressed.
Thank you to all who participated. I readily admit that it's a real change to lock a thread due to its over-riding attention-grabbing nature, rather than for reasons of contentiousness, but I do think it's for the best.
Many years,
Neil
