Скачать или смотреть Did Jesus Have a "Digital" Image? 📸Iconoclasm: The War Against the Incarnation

Selections from "Orthodox Theology of Icons"
Jul 18, 2016
Fr Hans beautifully explains the role of Icons in Orthodoxy.
   • Orthodox Theology of Icons  

Iconoclasm: The War Against the Incarnation

"The word 'Icon' comes from the Greek Eikon, meaning 'Image.' St. Paul calls Jesus the 'Icon of the Father' (Colossians 1:15). If God became a physical man, He became 'picturable.' To deny the Icon is to accidentally deny that God truly became human. ☦️ #shorts​ #orthodoxy​ #mystery​ #sacraments​ #spiritualawakening​

Saint Elder Cleopa Ilie (1912–1998), a renowned Romanian Orthodox monk and spiritual father, taught extensively on icon veneration as a fundamental aspect of Orthodox faith. His key teachings appear in his book The Truth of Our Faith, particularly in the chapter "On the Honourable Veneration of the Holy Icons," where he defends the practice using Holy Scripture and contrasts it with idolatry.

Core Teachings on Icon Veneration

Distinction from Idolatry: Elder Cleopa emphasized that venerating icons is not idolatry. Idols are human inventions representing false gods, while icons depict real persons or events (Christ, the Theotokos, saints) and direct honor to the prototype. He referenced Exodus 20:4 ("You shall not make for yourself a carved image") but noted God's command to Moses to make cherubim images for the Ark (Exodus 25:18–19), showing images are permissible when honoring God or His saints, not the material itself.

Purpose of Icons: Icons aid memory and devotion. Seeing an icon of the Crucifixion reminds believers of Christ's Passion, prompting worship of Him, not the wood or paint. As he preached on the Sunday of Orthodoxy: "We often do not think of the Savior's sufferings, but as soon as we see the icon of Christ's crucifixion, we remember His saving Passion and bow down, not to the material, but to the One depicted."

Biblical and Historical Basis: He drew parallels, such as Jacob bowing over Joseph's staff (Genesis 47:31), honoring Joseph through it. Similarly, Orthodox Christians bow and kiss icons to express love for the depicted saint, like kissing a photo of loved ones. He upheld the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea II, 787), which affirmed icon veneration against iconoclasm.

Blessings of Veneration: Elder Cleopa taught that honoring icons, especially of the Theotokos, brings blessings: "Blessed is the house and the family that venerate the icon of the Mother of God." He encouraged great piety toward her icon, noting it represents Heaven and Earth (with Christ in her arms).

Practical Guidance on Veneration

Proper Way to Kiss Icons — Do not kiss saints on the face (considered sinful); kiss the feet if full-body, or the lower part if a bust.

During Liturgy — After the priest's blessing for the Divine Liturgy begins, do not venerate icons or bring offerings to the altar, as it disturbs others focusing on the service.

Elder Cleopa's teachings root icon veneration in Scripture, Tradition, and the Incarnation: since God became visible in Christ, depicting Him is honorable. These insights, drawn from dialogues with inquirers (often Protestants challenging the practice), reflect his encyclopedic knowledge of the Fathers and zeal for Orthodoxy.