Non-Orthodox icons

[José Lauro Strapasson]

Hi There!
This is my very first message.
Can an orthodox cristian have an icon made by an heterodox cristian? Like roman catholics?
And what about ink jet printter icones?http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif

Thank you!

Jos� Lauro Strapasson
Brazil
See our forum
http://ortodoxiabrasil.iforums.com (portuguese/spanish)

[Herman Blaydoe]

An Orthodox Christian can have any kind of artwork I suppose, under the guidelines presented by the Apostle Paul, "...all things are lawful, but not all things edify..." HOWEVER, I would be hesitant to include a non-Orthodox icon in my icon corner. An Orthodox icon is an expression of prayer and theology. It obeys and conveys Orthodox teaching. Therefore, something from outside the Tradition of the Church is NOT an icon, it is just a picture. As long as it is treated as such, I don't see much harm, unless we consider the further admonition of the Apostle to not be a source of temptation to the brethren of lesser faith, but to "let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being."

As to printed icons, even icon prints have exhibited miraculous qualities. Therefore even a printed icon deserves to be handled in the same manner as a painted icon. Specificially it should not be simply crumbled up and tossed in the trash, but disposed of in a respectful manner.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I would 'second' what Herman wrote.

Taking something non-Orthodox as if it was an icon can often have a harmful effect on us without our realising this. For example many non-Orthodox 'icons' even if they deal with an Orthodox subject such as Christ, the Theotokos or the saints are very often fleshly in their manner of composition.

On the other hand there are at times non-Orthodox devotional pictures that bring one to compunction or to the thought of God or divine things.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

This is an old and continuing debate. In essence what Herman says is correct. But I have seen the most spectacular display of non-Orthodox icons in the cells of Hermits on the Holy Mountain. They may have been painted or printed by Orthodox Christians' but they are in no way Orthodox. They are Masonic, or otherwise. They are outside any respectful traditional style. For instance, a white bearded Father, sitting beside a younger bearded Son with a white Dove dangling somewhere in their midst. How about the 'One Eye' 'icon' which you see even on the front the the Church of the Holy Monastery of Karakallou, (let alone the American Dollar.) If this this is not Masonic, then what is it?
Yet these pictures are in the cells of extremely holy hermits. Whats' the picture?

[Jose Lauro Strapasson]

Thank you very much! But my question is more about a icon made by a non orthodox cristian rather than a non orthdox icon.

Thank you again.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Jose Lauro Strapasson wrote:


Thank you very much! But my question is more about a icon made by a non orthodox cristian rather than a non orthdox icon.

I would question whether an icon could be made by someone not Orthodox. I am not saying an image could not be made- even a beautiful, or religious or inspiring image. But this is not yet the definition of what an icon is.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

Fr. Raphael is absolutely correct. I am sorry that in my posting I got into poorly done Orthodox iconography.

To paint or more properly 'write' an icon involves more than just a brush, an egg, wood, varnish etc.

Above all, it is involves a fully lived Sacramental life. Confession, Holy Communion, attendance at the Divine Services, fasting, prayer and for monastics this would involve prostrations with the Jesus Prayer.

I have seen Eastern Rite Catholic attempts at icons, even ones on sale of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, by the same Eastern Rite group.

Sorry, but this is a serious, serious lapse not only in judgement but in execution and purpose. For all Orthodox Christians, whether laity or monastics, icons are of sacramental value and are passed on from generation to generation.

I have managed to misplace most of my at once vast library, and some of it is still on Mount Athos and in the Neamts region of Romania, but I take my icons and prayer rope everywhere.