Icons of Christ

[Andreas Moran]

The thought just occurred to me that as the bishop is the icon of Christ as great high priest, ordaining women to the episcopate, as some churches have done or propose to do, is like painting an icon of Christ as a woman.

[Alex Haig]

Christ is Risen!

I'm not so sure about this. The iconic argument, whilst persuasive, does not clinch the debate. Could this idea be extended to say having a non-Jew ordained is like having an icon of Christ Who is not Jewish or ordaining someone who wears glasses is the same as an icon of Christ with glasses? This certainly does not fit with modern (or even ancient) custom.

The fact Christ is male is not emphasised in the Fathers: what is important is He is human.

With love in the Risen Christ

Alex

[Andreas Moran]

I was only thinking that Christ was incarnate as a man.

[Olga]

Christ is Risen!
Could this idea be extended to say having a non-Jew ordained is like having an icon of Christ Who is not Jewish or ordaining someone who wears glasses is the same as an icon of Christ with glasses? This certainly does not fit with modern (or even ancient) custom.


There is nothing in any iconographic portrayal of Christ which suggests or denotes His being Jewish, any more than any of the apostles can be identified as Jews in their icons, therefore this idea has no relevance to the question Andreas raised. It must also be remembered that the "Jewishness" of Christ and the apostles and saints has also been fulfilled and transformed by the Incarnation and earthly ministry of Christ.



The fact Christ is male is not emphasised in the Fathers: what is important is He is human.


The incarnate Christ is always referred to in male terms, in whichever language the Fathers used. This is a physical reality.


... is like painting an icon of Christ as a woman.

Alas, Andreas, some non-Orthodox artists have already done this, particularly those who equate the grammatical female gender of Wisdom with the "divine feminine" principle, in their attempt to justify female ordination and episcopal consecration. The Sophianist heresies have long been denounced by the Church, but they still lurk around.

[Carolyn C.]

Does anyone know why on many icons of Christ there is a gold band around his right arm? What does this signify?

[Olga]

Carolyn, the gold band extending vertically from the right shoulder, is called an angulus clavulus. This stripe was worn by those in the Greco-Roman world who were in positions of authority, such as senators, teachers, etc. This motif of honour is also often seen on the tunic of apostles in their icons.