www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology ICONS

Being rather interested in icons/iconography, I have done a good deal of reading on the subject. While I have found tons of material on the history, theology, theory and technique of icon writing, I can't find anything about the spiritual preparation required of an iconographer, or the interior process undertaken to create a truly orthodox image. Any suggestions?

Dear Captl,

I waited awhile for someone more learned than I to respond to your question, but as no one has thus far, I will try. Since I have been an iconographer for only 7 months, you will understand if my information is incomplete!

First of all, especially in the west, one should begin by having the right attitude.
A number of artistically talented people have
begun to commercially exploit iconography in this country (or perhaps others - I don't know - I have just seen catalogs, etc. advertising icons produced in the U.S.) Some of the products labeled icons are very quickly and poorly made, and some are actually heretical - a great, great tragedy.

For this reason I believe, along with most others, that a good understanding of the Church and Tradition must be absorbed before there is any thought of beginning iconography. This is the most important part of iconography, for otherwise anyone could
create error. As a relatively mild example, this week a local Roman Catholic university sponsored an icon exhibit; most of the icons appear to have been painted by untutored secular artists. The faces show a complete lack of understanding of the Byzantine style. There were strong emotional expressions, an appearance as if the faces wore make-up, and the eyes had prominent highlights, among other problems. The viewing public is now subjected to these improper interpretations of Byzantine art, and it will be the only exposure many of them ever have.

Getting off that soapbox, the Muscovite Council of 100 Chapters says, "The painter of icons must be humble, gentle, and pious, avoiding immoral conversations and mundane scurrility; he must be neither quarrelsome nor envious of others, neither a drunkard nor a thief; he must practice both spiritual and corporal purity."

Also allow me to quote from a book called
"The Icon: Window on the Kingdom" by Michael Quenot, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press: "The iconographer nurtures his art both from Tradition and from the teachings of the Church. His personality must efface itself before the personality represented on the icon." Further, "Iconographers must eliminate their personal sentiments and emotions from the icon to void imposing them on others. Icon painting is a heroic art and a true apostolate."

It follows from this that the preparation would be to try to live as holy a life as possible, or in other words, the preparation for this particular vocation would be much the same one as preparation for every vocation and for life itself - strive to be the best we can be, for God, attempting to replace our own will with His Divine Will.

When I studied at St John of Damascus Sacred Art Academy (which I look forward to continuing this coming summer), we were given a sheet of rules on the first day, and here they are:

Rules for the Icon Writer

+ Before starting work, make the sign of the cross; pray in silence and pardon your enemies.
+ Work with care on every detail of your icon, as if you were working in front of the Lord Himself.
+ During work, pray, in order to strengthen yourself physically and spiritually; avoid above all, useless words, and keep silence.
+ Pray in particular to Christ, the Theotokos, or the Saint whose image you are writing. Keep your mind from distractions and the Saint will be close to you.
+ When you have to choose a color, stretch out your hands interiorly to the Lord and ask His counsel.
+ Do not be envious of another's work. His/her success is your success too.
+ When your icon is finished, thank God that His mercy granted you the grace to write the Holy Images.
+ Have the icon blessed by putting it on the altar. Be the first to pray before it, before giving it to another.
+ Never forget the joy of spreading icons in the world, the joy of the work of icon-painting, the joy of giving the Saint the possibility of shining through his icon, the joy of being in union with the Saint whose face you are painting.

In my practice I find it is most important to
spend a large amount of time in prayer, silence, and contemplation at the onset of beginning a new icon. Then each time the work is taken up again, another layer of paint applied, etc., it is not necessary to spend that same large amount of time in spiritual preparation. The first time of prayer and silence becomes like a spiritual savings account, to use an imperfect example,
from which further withdrawals can be made as needed. Otherwise the icon could never be finished, if several hours preparation had to
precede each painting session!

There is a manual written by Dionysius of Fourna which may have a deeper study of the spiritual preparation involved, but I do not have a copy of this yet. Perhaps one is available to you where you live.

I hope I have helped you in some small way. My prayers are for your continuing interest and commitment to iconographic studies.

Dear Captl,

I waited awhile for someone more learned than I to respond to your question, but as no one has thus far, I will try. Since I have been an iconographer for only 7 months, you will understand if my information is incomplete!

First of all, especially in the west, one should begin by having the right attitude.
A number of artistically talented people have
begun to commercially exploit iconography in this country (or perhaps others - I don't know - I have just seen catalogs, etc. advertising icons produced in the U.S.) Some of the products labeled icons are very quickly and poorly made, and some are actually heretical - a great, great tragedy.

For this reason I believe, along with most others, that a good understanding of the Church and Tradition must be absorbed before there is any thought of beginning iconography. This is the most important part of iconography, for otherwise anyone could
create error. As a relatively mild example, this week a local Roman Catholic university sponsored an icon exhibit; most of the icons appear to have been painted by untutored secular artists. The faces show a complete lack of understanding of the Byzantine style. There were strong emotional expressions, an appearance as if the faces wore make-up, and the eyes had prominent highlights, among other problems. The viewing public is now subjected to these improper interpretations of Byzantine art, and it will be the only exposure many of them ever have.

Getting off that soapbox, the Muscovite Council of 100 Chapters says, "The painter of icons must be humble, gentle, and pious, avoiding immoral conversations and mundane scurrility; he must be neither quarrelsome nor envious of others, neither a drunkard nor a thief; he must practice both spiritual and corporal purity."

Also allow me to quote from a book called
"The Icon: Window on the Kingdom" by Michael Quenot, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press: "The iconographer nurtures his art both from Tradition and from the teachings of the Church. His personality must efface itself before the personality represented on the icon." Further, "Iconographers must eliminate their personal sentiments and emotions from the icon to void imposing them on others. Icon painting is a heroic art and a true apostolate."

It follows from this that the preparation would be to try to live as holy a life as possible, or in other words, the preparation for this particular vocation would be much the same one as preparation for every vocation and for life itself - strive to be the best we can be, for God, attempting to replace our own will with His Divine Will.

When I studied at St John of Damascus Sacred Art Academy (which I look forward to continuing this coming summer), we were given a sheet of rules on the first day, and here they are:

Rules for the Icon Writer

+ Before starting work, make the sign of the cross; pray in silence and pardon your enemies.
+ Work with care on every detail of your icon, as if you were working in front of the Lord Himself.
+ During work, pray, in order to strengthen yourself physically and spiritually; avoid above all, useless words, and keep silence.
+ Pray in particular to Christ, the Theotokos, or the Saint whose image you are writing. Keep your mind from distractions and the Saint will be close to you.
+ When you have to choose a color, stretch out your hands interiorly to the Lord and ask His counsel.
+ Do not be envious of another's work. His/her success is your success too.
+ When your icon is finished, thank God that His mercy granted you the grace to write the Holy Images.
+ Have the icon blessed by putting it on the altar. Be the first to pray before it, before giving it to another.
+ Never forget the joy of spreading icons in the world, the joy of the work of icon-painting, the joy of giving the Saint the possibility of shining through his icon, the joy of being in union with the Saint whose face you are painting.

In my practice I find it is most important to
spend a large amount of time in prayer, silence, and contemplation at the onset of beginning a new icon. Then each time the work is taken up again, another layer of paint applied, etc., it is not necessary to spend that same large amount of time in spiritual preparation. The first time of prayer and silence becomes like a spiritual savings account, to use an imperfect example,
from which further withdrawals can be made as needed. Otherwise the icon could never be finished, if several hours preparation had to
precede each painting session!

There is a manual written by Dionysius of Fourna which may have a deeper study of the spiritual preparation involved, but I do not have a copy of this yet. Perhaps one is available to you where you live.

I hope I have helped you in some small way. My prayers are for your continuing interest and commitment to iconographic studies.

Dear Judith:

Thank you for the information! I shall let you know if/when I summon up the nerve to attempt writing an icon.

In Christ,
CAPTL