Iconoclasm has not
been an issue for many centuries. Icons are no longer destroyed like they used
to be in the 8th and
early 9th centuries.
However, we could say that, in a sense, there is a permanent struggle against
God’s image in every heart going on all the time. You see, human beings were
created in God’s image, and the sin works inside our hearts to besmirch or
destroy this image.
If you look at the history of art, the roots of our civilization lie in
the antiquity. This art was human-centered, that is, man was in the center of
all fine arts. The ancients instinctively, intuitively felt that there was a
wonderful secret in every person, and tried to find out what it was. If you
look at Greek or Egyptian art, it always focuses on images of people. Although
these people had been created in the image of God, they still had sin dwelling
in their hearts, which is why the art of icon painting could not appear at that
time.
Since the time when Christ, the
God-man, came to this world, we can see on an icon not just a human being, but
a deified human being. It is like a bridge: on the one side, there is God who
became human, and on the other side, there is a human who becomes God.
Thus, we encounter the real person, the true beauty of
Christ, on an icon. The Christian civilization centers not just on the man but
on the God-man.
Unfortunately, the contemporary world brings a sinful, damaged, and distorted
human being back to the spotlight again. In this sense, the struggle against
the icon is going on even today. We have to understand that every person, every
Christian is also an icon painter in a certain sense. One needn’t be a
professional icon painter but if you live with God, an icon is being painted in
your soul. Perhaps, you are not the only person who should be able to see this
icon: other people also need to be able to see it — to see something special in
our words and actions, to see Christ through everything we do or say. Sadly, we
often fail to be an example, an image of Christ.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgF9NfKTp9h990iteNjUyaJAFlBrdi6PAElGmWMerLEY9Rm0zJWdFpuF_3xGuR5niR9PWarSH0kwqMEN8Lv1vv7YXD7uiSr_L4ZiJ0Ni_6np1uFzdjsT5spIA_APF3KxgwiAF4hj_dXQ/s320/foto30122014_23_originalxq.jpg)
I heard a priest say that the
quality of an icon depends on how people pray. If we come to Tretyakov Gallery
and look at the 14th-15th century icons, we will see how people
could pray at those times, how spiritually advanced they were. The power of
their prayer found its reflection in the art of icon painting. But if we look
at contemporary icons, we will regrettably have to admit that our prayers are
weaker than they used to be in the past. We must remember that, in fact, it is
the prayer that the kind of images that modern icon painters create depends on.
I say so because I have something to do with it in some way.
Father Sergious, Head of the Icon Painting Studio of St. Elisabeth Convent
Brace yourself for a battle
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWIsUdoLrUv3fsgCNIG8lqyDmzfNB6bwXKp8Aexh6c-4o3N9JiCyTv0YnYakI2-2y60KvCKRUAKRIrfgBlTLwsvCH0p6bPyCPQPIO3i9HpRvihodCp9DrwNzwUgsJRXlfW4_YBQWN-oA/s320/foto21052014_3_originalxq.jpg)
We are constantly talking about humility, about something we don't have
but we would like to have — something that we ask from God when we come to him.
This is something that can help us to navigate through all the sorrows, all the
snares, all the cobwebs of sin that has wrapped the world, and open the door
into the Kingdom of Heaven for us. This is something that the Lord wants to
teach us: this renewal of a person, his return to his original image and
likeness.
The Lord gives us strength; He sacrifices himself for us; He gives us a
chance to start a new life every day. We wake up every day hoping to «remain
unscathed by sin». Certainly, we do not always succeed but we do our best, and
we combat the sin at least for some time — in the beginning of the day. Even if
sin defeats us, if it crucifies us, we will eventually do away with it, if we keep
looking up at God, if we trust him and remain close to him.
God's mercy outweighs all our sins but this does not mean that we may go
on sinning as long as we want to. It means that we should not be depressed when
sins prevail over us, when they throw us down into the mud. We must rise up,
purify ourselves, and keep going where God sends us and doing what He tells us
to do. This is, perhaps, what St Tikhon of Zadonsk called 'a Christian's way' —
going from a downfall to a downfall, and rising up again every time. We should
not lie down for a long time; we should not be depressed; we should struggle
with our sins to the best of our abilities.
![]() |
St Tikhon of Zadonsk |
How we finish this race depends on God, of course, but it also depends
on our will. If the Lord sees that we attempt to turn to him — not even taking
a step towards him, but simply looking at him and asking for his help with hope
— He will accept our last breath. On his deathbed, St John Chrysostom
exclaimed, «Glory be to God for everything!» Let us thank the Lord for his gifts.
Father Valery
CONVERSATION