Lately, I
have payed attention to the fact that people often put icons in their cars.
These icons can be various: folding icons, triptychs and sometimes even simple
images of the Cross. What is this? Is it some kind of fashion, ritual or
amulet? Let us try to make it clear.
Car owners especially love the images of Christ
Not-Made-by-Hand, the Mother of God of Kazan and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Often you can also see the images of Archangel Michael and St. Seraphim of
Sarov.
First of all, let us deal with the variant about
amulets. It is an element of paganism. Although some drivers, who put icons in
their cars, consider themselves Christians, they often act in the other way
around. Thus icons can be placed in cars as magical or pagan elements. Paganism is revealed
in this case through the attitude towards icons, which are considered to be idols.
Nevertheless, no icon can save or help a person, who has no real faith in God.
In Greek language the word “icon” means “image”. The image of the One
Whom we address in our prayers. Looking at the icon, we should see the Savior, the
Mother of God or saints in it. If you treat an icon like an amulet, then you
will not get any help from heaven. It is not the icon itself that protects you,
but the saint depicted on it. However, if drivers do not pray before the icons in their cars, and they serve them as mascots aimed to protect people during the journey. What is more,
many people put icons in their cars just because other people do so.
If we take a little excursion through history, we can
find out that so-called “road” icons exists for about 9 centuries. And this
kind of icons represents one of the iconography genres. This art is rather multi-faceted
and can take various shapes, enriching the Orthodox world with such unique
works of art. Moreover, among the most interesting variants of holy images
there must be noted the so-called “road” or “travel” icons, which are supposed
to accompany faithful people on their way.
A travel icon is a small in size image, which you can
easily get for the road and use for prayer. We know that such icons exist at
least since the 12th century, and that the first examples of this
technique, which have survived to this days, came to us from the Byzantine
Empire.
Earlier, only monks and pilgrims had such icons, so
that they can read their everyday prayers before them. Today such an icon might
be interesting for any person, who likes to travel or just spends much time on
the road.
The popularity of those icons grew rapidly. After
their appearance, not only monks began to wear such images, but also soldiers,
merchants, nobles and even peasants. What is more, those icons were made of
three pieces (triptychs) and were worn on the chest.
We can also add folding icons and special medallions to
this category of icons. As a rule, until the 18th century, travel icons were made
of metal. Later, after the church reform, their amount was reduced
and they were replaced by the images written with oil or tempera. However, the
manufacturing of metal icons was not fully stopped, and they were created until
the beginning of the 20th century.
Today there are various types of the road icons and
even patron saints’ icons can be used for that. Orthodox Christians, who are used
to traveling a lot and want to think about their safety, often get such images to
wear them around their neck, keep in a wallet or a bag or just put them in
their car. So, we can say that today we observe the second birth of these
unique Christian symbols.
Orthodox priests approve the tradition of putting
icons in cars. It is often said that the icons in a car are just like an icon
corner at home, in front of which we pray when we enter the house.
An icon is neither an amulet, nor mascot. It is the hope
for salvation, protection and safe road. It is put in a car so that we can
praise God and the Mother of God before to go and ask for a safe trip.
After the ride one should cross himself, kiss the
cross and sincerely thank God for everything.
Travel safe by your cars and may the Lord bless your travels!
Source: http://pravlife.org/content/ikony-v-mashinah
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