Icons powerfully tell stories using the visual images that affect those who can read and those who can't.

But there are people in countries where literacy is not very common. We take for granted that people are going to be able to read, said Pier. Orthodox people believe it's a representation, not idolatry. Iconography didn't start as iconography, there's always been art in places of worship. Some people think icons are idols, but they're not, Katsaros said. Mary of Egypt, one of the most beloved in the church. Paul because they are traditional and are the most important apostles and St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) because he is one of the most popular saints in the Orthodox church, two hymnographers to be displayed where the choir stands, St. Pier says there are far too few women saints in churches and honored in the Antiochian denomination. Thecla as one of their icons because she is a woman saint. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church in York chose St. Then, around Christ in the dome, there will always either be prophets or archangels telling the story of the coming of Christ.Īside from those mandatory icons, each church can choose the other icons they want displayed as well as how many they want. Christ is always in the dome and the Virgin Mary is always in the front on the East wall. For example, Mary is always on the left of the Iconostasis and next to her is the patron saint of the church. There are some icons that are always in an Orthodox church, always in the same places. Jesus' colors are inverted, his outer garment is blue and his inner is red, symbolizing his heavenly presence on Earth. Her head covering is the earth color, red, because of her humanity. Mary's dress is blue, a heavenly color, because she held Jesus in her womb. Both colors are used in the garments of Mary and Jesus at the front of the nave (where the congregation sits) on the Iconostasis. Red is an earth color, blue a heavenly color. Now, the tones are similar but acrylic is used. To stick to surfaces, paint used to be made with egg and things from the earth, giving a muted and faded color. Russian Orthodox for example use bright colors, but Greek Orthodox and Antiochian Orthodox use earth tones that are similar to those used in icons painted thousands of years ago. Color countsĬolors are important and symbolic in icons. He transforms the image to be stylized with no shadows or depth to draw focus to the story rather than the form. When you come into church, you don't want to be distracted and see big muscles, he said. 'They're not supposed to be beautiful, they're supposed to be spiritual,' Katsaros said.

The icons aren't meant to look realistic or show detailed muscle and form like some religious paintings.

That's part of the reason Katsaros paints on canvas. If the wall leaks, the paint probably wouldn't be ruined, the canvas would just pull away from the wall, Pier said. The canvas is then glued onto the wall and gold leaf is applied after. You need some great scissor skills to be able to cut out an icon, and Katsaros said he only uses a good pair a couple times before he buys new to ensure they're sharp. The iconographer paints the icons on canvas, then brings them to the church and cuts them out using scissors. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church said. Iconographer Elias Katsaros doesn't actually paint the icons directly onto the wall. Here are five things to know about the icons you see in Orthodox churches: How icons are made

They may look like simple drawings, but each one has a purpose and a specialized artist, an iconographer, behind them. If you've ever been in an Orthodox church, you've undoubtedly been greeted with walls covered with icons.

Subatomic iconographer