Religious Icons of controversy

     Person of the dispute was not about Christ as the 681 and cease Ecumenical Council, but in the eighth, ninth century expanded in different forms. At this time the focus on the icon of worship, including observance of controversy Christ, the Virgin and other saints of the image caused by the church or private home. Iconoclast depicting God or any religious art human image was very disgusted to require removal of these icons; on the contrary, those who worship the icon strongly guard the status icons in church life. Point of conflict the two parties not only the church art of cognitive differences, but also a deeper problem: the humanity of Christ, the church's views on the matter, and the real meaning of salvation.

     Against the icon of worshipers may be affected by Judaism and Islam; It is worth noting that, on the outbreak of iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire, the first movement of the previous three years, Islam Ye Jide successor (Caliph Yezid) ordered all territory under its icon a rate of removal. However, not only from the outside against the worship icons influence the Church has been on the existence of "Protestant" view, that would appear to be the idol of all the icons. So iconoclasm when emperors, the Church will have many supporters.

     Iconoclasm campaign Leo the Great's reign can be divided into two periods. The first period began in 1780 under Leo III called iconoclasm, until Huang Hou Yilei (Irene) presidency to stop the persecution. Seventh, and last Ecumenical Council (787) upholds the icon worship, supported the position of the first Council of Nicea, the meeting declared: As the cross and the Gospel, and other real symbol icon, should be in the Church Save veneration. The second period began in 815, Leo V, iconoclasm, until 843 years emperor (Theodora) fully restored icon of worship, from fully accredited status icons, called "Orthodoxy victory ", while Orthodox  first Sunday of Lent (also known as the" triumph Sunday is the letter ") to commemorate this event. The primary supporter of the first period for the icon of St. John of Damascus (St John of Damascus, 675-749), the second period was the bishop of San Di Tudor (St Theodore, 759-826). St. John's because they live in Muslim areas, away from the control of the Byzantine Empire, to be freer to develop their ideal; after Islam also cover the development of several unexpected protect Orthodox.

One of the major characteristics of Orthodox icons lies in a unique position. Within today's Orthodox Church is full of a lot of icons, including separate church sanctuary and nave icon screen, icon above everywhere, every corner of the church there are icons on the altar, and wall murals icons or mosaic. Laymen will bow down and kiss the icons and light candles in front of icons, the Fathers will burn incense to worship before the icon, the icon will be exalted in the other traveling team. These postures and moves in the end mean? What icons represent? Why St. John, who will be very important icon?

     We first clarify objections to the proposed icon worshipers "Idol said," followed by the positive value of icons as described doctrine taught, and finally add the importance of its doctrinal.
      (1) Idol question: kiss or bow icons do not represent idolatry. Icons are not idols, but a symbol; the veneration of icons of material objects are not made, but the depicted individuals. This is in opposition to the dispute before the icon that is the repair Presley, Andy (Leontius of Neapolis, died about 650 years) to clarify: "We do not worship wood, but the crucified Christ ... When two pieces of wood on the cross when combined together, I'll sacrifice of the cross represents Christ worship the image, if two separate wood, I will put aside it, burn "as icon is only a symbol of Orthodox believers are not to be worshiped, but to be veneration.; St. John's had to be detailed for the entity to distinguish symbolic veneration and worship of God.
     (2) Icons as part of the teachings of the faith: the icon is one of the church to teach religion tool, Li Andi had said: "As open book icon, let us think of God." Those who lack knowledge or no time to study theology just go to church, they will learn from the wall presented the Christian faith. Support icon said that if the Gentiles want you to let him see your letter, and took him to the icon in front of the church now. Thus, form part of the sacred tradition of icons.
    (3) the doctrine icon : Here we come to the main argument against icon worshipers - even if not idols, even with their teaching value, icons or even necessary? Support icon contend, icons can guard the doctrine of the incarnation. And against those who agree icons eternal qualities of God can not be manifested - "No one has ever seen God" (John / if a 18), but supports those who believe the Incarnation icon produces figurative school of religious art, God Because changes to people's styles, so be portrayed. St. John's to show that the image can show tangible entity has the body of God:
"Before God no definite shape, so completely unable to describe. But because God became flesh, and dwelt among men, so I can create the image of God to be seen. I do not worship matter but I worship the creation substances who - it came into the world because of me, humbled the body, so that I can be saved and therefore I will not stop worshiping the form that I saved. ".

     Against the icon of worshipers because of not fully take into account the significance of the Word made flesh, and refute these represent God's image. They are like many Protestants, fall into the so-called dualism, that the matter would bring tarnished believe spiritual things must be non-material, and therefore rejects any substantial form. However, this violates the spirit of the Incarnation, because of ignoring the humanity of Christ and the body, forget our flesh is like the soul needs to be redeemed and updated. Therefore, early debate against icon worship Christ Person on issues closely linked; this is not only a debate on religious art, but about the incarnation, and salvation issues and on the entire visible universe.
     Because God is visible and the body, so that the material can be saved. St. John says: "The Word became flesh so that the flesh holiness"; God sanctified matter, a "spiritual product", if the Holy Spirit became flesh medium, the wood and watercolors can also. Orthodox icons and their doctrine in fact believe in God material and spiritual creatures could potentially have been redeemed, glorified beliefs are closely related. Zenuo Wu (Nicolas Zernov, 1898-I980) The following talk about the icons of the content on the Russians, it is appropriate to all Orthodox Christians:

     [Religious Icons] for the Russian people, not only painting, but the person's spiritual power through beauty and art to redeem the dynamic behavior of creatures. Colors and lines [icon] on not to mimic nature; artists who mainly want to show human beings, animals and plants, and the whole universe from the current degraded state to be saved over, restored to its rightful "image." [Icon] is subject to the glory of creation is redeemed from the fall to ensure that ... it is not only the perfect artistic reflection trance country, but also the material back to its original beauty and harmony of concrete examples, can be used as an intermediary for the Holy Spirit. Icon is part of the transformation process of the universe.

Handmade Metal orthodox Religous silver icon of Jesus Christ

We have the power of the Savior like - Jesus Christ

"There is the power of the Savior," that with the power and glory of the image of Jesus Christ comes again, with the "Last Judgment" is directly related to the theme, because Christ is "judge the living and the dead", his trial was fair , who can not escape the judgment of Christ. The last theme was widespread in the trial of medieval art. It was generally eschatological mood sometimes make imagine on this theme from the "Bible." Icon theology believers try to turn toward the idea of "the Gospel." So what is the final judgment of God?Jesus Christ himself said: "I tried to come up dead, who do not see, you can see, can see become blind"; added:. "If anyone hears my words do not keep them, I do not judge him I .. the people are not to judge the world, but to save the world rejects me, and receiveth not my words, do not judge him, whom I have spoken will judge him in the last day, "Jesus quoted favorite disciple John said: "The Trial in this; the light came on in the world, and the world but love darkness because their behavior is evil."Thus, by road and the light of God to judge anlw.i is terrible punishment but loving rescue. In the "powerful Savior" These icons come in, take the hands of Jesus Christ by the book open on the page, usually says "Matthew" in the sentence: "Where people are weary and burdened, can come to me, I will give you rest "as the apostle James said:." mercy than judgment "is sometimes written on this text to open the page:." I am the light of the world "," not according to appearance, but judge right and wrong, always righteous judgment. "
"There is the power of the Savior like" hide many different "Bible" theology memories and associations, making it the connotation of the richest and most profound type of icon painting.You can say it is a symbolic language written with paintings and theological writings. So the Russian Orthodox Church in the painting not only the core iconostasis, and is the center of the church.

the power of the Savior like - Jesus Christ

Holiday commemorating Jesus Christ - Easter

Easter in the Orthodox Church is important in life. Theologian Bulgakov wrote: is the core of the Orthodox Easter, but also the Orthodox and improve living testimony to the truth. Easter is the role of the Holy Spirit can be felt, it is the performance of Pentecost, so also the resurrection of Christ appeared in this world, although it is not visible.
Orthodox Easter holiday date is not fixed. Its date is a year after the first full moon after the spring equinox the first Sunday.
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Christ festival. But the word Easter comes from the ancient Jewish language, is "after", "beyond" means. Since early Christian and Jewish Passover Easter is over together, because, according to the Gospel account of Jesus Christ is killed and resurrected during Passover of the Jews. By the year 325, the first Christian Ecumenical Council (Nicaea) only make provision Christian Easter and the Jewish Passover should open a separate celebration. Specific date was set after the first full moon after the spring equinox day every year the first Sunday, that is, between the lunar calendar (Julian calendar) of March 22 to April 25 each year on different dates, the believer compiled from the church, "the date of Easter table" to know the exact date the first year.
It should be noted that the Orthodox Easter icons unique. West depicts the image of Christ's resurrection is based on "the Gospel," the description, often stand up Christ from the coffin in the tomb scene. Orthodox believe that the mystery of Christ's resurrection is people can not understand and painted. According to the Byzantine Orthodox tradition, Easter icon is "hell" (or "enter hell": Shortly after the resurrection of Christ, breaking the gates of hell, into the underworld, mankind Adam and Eve from the dead.
Easter is the biggest holiday of the Russian Orthodox Church. Bulgakov said: "Christ is the common Easter holiday all the Christian world, but nowhere like in this cheerful and holy Orthodox Church, also can add that Russia did not like the earth so anywhere, the joy of Easter and to celebrate the Spring Festival grand. jubilant happy Easter night brings us to the next century of life, with the new and eternal happiness. "in the night, and the entire Easter week in seven years, it will be another kiss each other and exchanged greetings, the party said, "Christ is risen", the other party answers "really risen."

Religious God jesus art Christian Orthodox icon