Creating icons

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear All,

When painting an icon does one first glue or cover the board with a piece of cloth?

Thanks.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father Anthony]

Dear All,

When painting an icon does one first glue or cover the board with a piece of cloth?

Thanks.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

Dear Father Raphael,

I have had the opportunity to observe numerous iconographers write icons in the various stages of creation. Almost all use a muslin or canvas cloth adhered to the board. Each step in the progression of writing an icon has a meaning. Unfortunately, I may not be the best to reiterate the meaning of each step.

I hope this helps.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear Father Raphael,

I have had the opportunity to observe numerous iconographers write icons in the various stages of creation. Almost all use a muslin or canvas cloth adhered to the board. Each step in the progression of writing an icon has a meaning. Unfortunately, I may not be the best to reiterate the meaning of each step.

I hope this helps.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Thanks for the info Father. I thought along similar lines but was also beginning to forget.

It is interesting though how the question came up. Yesterday for us was the feast of the Icon of Our Lord Not Made by Hands.

In one of my Russian Calendars it explains that in the Russian tradition August 1st is called Saviour on the Waters because water is blessed on this day. Apple Saviour is on the 6th of August when apples (and fruit) are blessed. And on August 16 is Saviour on Cloth when the cloth was blessed. These days are also respectively called First, Second & Third Saviour.

This blessing of cloth on this day I had neither heard of nor seen here in the west. Apparently on this day in old Russia the peasants would have their newly woven cloth blessed. The connection to the feast I think would be because of the way in which to form the made without hands icon Christ pressed a piece of cloth to His face.

I wonder whether in monasteries this was also when cloth to cover icon boards with was blessed. But I really don't know the answer to this.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father Anthony]

Thank you Father Raphael, for I was curious as to how the subject came up.

The information in your post is a definite possibility. Though I have never heard of fabric being blessed, it does not mean that it does not happen. I would be curious to see the prayer from the Book of Needs and the rubric for the prayer. That may actually answer some questions.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Thank you Father Raphael, for I was curious as to how the subject came up.

The information in your post is a definite possibility. Though I have never heard of fabric being blessed, it does not mean that it does not happen. I would be curious to see the prayer from the Book of Needs and the rubric for the prayer. That may actually answer some questions.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

The version of the Orthodox Church Calendar for 2007 that I have explains how the cloth used to be blessed on August 16 for the Feast of the Icon not made by Hands. But in my 2 volume Book of Needs (Trebnik) from Jordanville I could find no such prayer. Also Nikol'sky's commentary makes no mention of this blessing.

Probably in larger versions of the Book of Needs in Russia such a prayer could be found.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father Anthony]

Father Raphael,

I would appreciate it if you find anything that you post it.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear Fr Anthony,

Yesterday I asked one of the best liturgical experts of our church about this. But he wasn't able to find such a service or prayer in any of his books.

If I come across anything though I will post it.

In Christ- Fr Raphael