The Significance of Greek Orthodox Icons

The adherence to canonical traditions and the incredible history behind them are what makes Greek Orthodox icons a significant layer of world sacral art. Having adopted the iconographic features of Byzantium but with their own artistic style, Greek icons are now a unique phenomenon that is worth a closer look.

The emergence of a new iconographic culture

Firstly, it is worth recalling that Greek iconography had a thorny path before it became a full-fledged and integral part of Christianity. In the 2nd century B.C., Greece was ruled by the Roman Empire that later broke into two parts, one of which had its center in Byzantium. Since that time, Greece began to adopt the features of the Byzantines, both socially and culturally.

Icons were created and then destroyed as the beliefs in the Ottoman Empire, which included Greece, did not permit the dissemination of images of God and religious motifs. But ultimately, the art of iconography did not go missing. Many iconographers managed to preserve this cultural phenomenon, painting Greek Orthodox icons on commission and thus spreading and developing the then-existing tradition of painting and iconography.

Greek Orthodox icons as the ancestors of world iconography

Ancient Greek icons indeed gave birth to a remarkable religious culture called “iconography.” Today, they are admired for their deep spirituality and expressive Byzantine canons around the world.

The Byzantine style of Greek icons includes the predominance of golden hues and the traditional depiction of the images, vestments, poses of the saints, and biblical plots.

The images in the icons are not meant to be realistic, but rather a reflection of a spiritual, heavenly world. Besides, Greek icons are highly appreciated by many believers for their peaceful images that seem to radiate divine light, shimmering with tones of golden color.

Over time, the style of Greek Orthodox icons has evolved into a more simplified form, thus placing even a greater emphasis on the spiritual world that is not visible to the eye. The meaning of Greek and Byzantine icons in this sense is the same as in the entire Orthodox world, where an icon is a window into the heavenly world and not an ordinary portrait of a saint. One good example is Christ Pantocrator from the Sinai monastery, which conveys all the features of traditional iconography.

Greek icons are an integral part of Christian art and world culture overall. Stay with us to learn more about these and other wonderful religious icons!