ICONOGRAPHY AT THE SERVICE OF INITIATION TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Abstract

Iconography is an art that has been highly developed in the Eastern Church and is deeply intertwined with the Christian faith. Throughout the history of the Church, the West has taken different paths in the field of art due to its cultural development. This article delineates a path of deepening understanding regarding the characteristics of iconography and how it can serve the Christian faith across the globe. It is advantageous for a Christian to receive the spirituality of iconography from infancy and absorb this rich means of transmitting faith. Conversely, it is never too late for Christians, who embark on the process of faith later in life, to utilize iconography as an ally. Iconography has served and continues to serve the Church at all levels and aspects that the path of faith offers to each individual. It is a spark of humanity’s longing for the divine, and, as many saints and iconographers assert, it is also a window to eternity. Standing before an icon is a complete experience of faith, as iconography shows the path that a Christian must follow in life and the future that awaits. Through iconography, the earth and heavens converge, as God allows the Christian to open the eyes of faith to contemplate His beauty and perfection.