Schlock Icons

[LBK]

Please tell me what purpose other than blasphemy, is pursuing this topic?

Reading page 1 of this thread should help. It's to show people that there are many images out there which might look like icons, but are blasphemous, or express teachings or ideas which have no place in Orthodox belief. Sometimes the artists don't realize what they are painting is wrong, other times they do know, but paint them anyway.

The Sergius and Bacchus one is a typical example. The artist who painted it states that the saints were homosexual lovers, so he deliberately painted them like that. The artist has painted other pairs of saints to promote a positive view of homosexuality.

Two related threads:

http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,11209.0/all.html

http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,44810.0/all.html

 

[isxodnik]

It's to show people that there are many images out there which might look like icons, but are blasphemous, or express teachings or ideas which have no place in Orthodox belief.

Apparently, this is some Western specifics...

 

[LBK]

Apparently, this is some Western specifics...

Do you mean that there aren't Orthodox people who have painted bad icons? That it is only something that non-Orthodox people have done?

 

[isxodnik]

I mean the concept you've voiced (teaching the good through repeating the bad) sounds strange. But I admit that my misunderstanding is due to cultural differences.
But still strange...

 

[LBK]

I mean the concept you've voiced (teaching the good through repeating the bad) sounds strange. But I admit that my misunderstanding is due to cultural differences.
But still strange...

What I am about to say happened a few years ago. I was looking at the website of an Orthodox monastery which sold icons and vestments produced by the nuns. On the website was an embroidered icon which was an exact copy of the blasphemous St Sergius and Bacchus image. I emailed the monastery, letting them know about the origin of the image, which I was sure they had innocently included in their range without knowing its history.

A day later, I received a reply from one of the nuns, who had been given the blessing to respond to emails and letters. She said she would be showing my email to the abbess. A couple of days later, the abbess herself emailed me. She thanked me for letting the monastery know that the image was blasphemous and heretical, and that the monastery would immediately stop producing embroidered icons using the image.

Isxodnik, do you think it would have been better for me to remain silent and in doing so allow a monastery to keep producing items based on a blasphemous and heretical painting which looks like an icon?

 

[isxodnik]

You're good! I say: cultural peculiarities. I can't imagine, so we needed someone to explain what the icon with the reptiles, or to the tune of Warhammer - the non-Orthodox. There are distortions, but not so obvious. For example, I was sent an icon of the Mother of God "Московская и всея Руси". Alarming is its name, the image is also non-canonical, with Muslim and Masonic symbols, the origin is muddy. But still not such a blow to the eyes, as in this topic ))

 

[LBK]

You're good! I say: cultural peculiarities. I can't imagine, so we needed someone to explain what the icon with the reptiles, or to the tune of Warhammer - the non-Orthodox. There are distortions, but not so obvious. For example, I was sent an icon of the Mother of God "Московская и всея Руси". Alarming is its name, the image is also non-canonical, with Muslim and Masonic symbols, the origin is muddy. But still not such a blow to the eyes, as in this topic ))

The extreme images on this thread like the Warhammer or reptile ones are so obviously ridiculous that no Orthodox person (or even non-Orthodox but Christian) would think they're OK to venerate. They're just silly cartoons.

The bad icons that are more dangerous are the ones like the Moskovskaya i vseya Rusi you mentioned. It's because they are not "blows to the eyes" that people might not realize they're no good.

 

[isxodnik]

Then we return to the original question: why post openly blasphemous images?

 

[LBK]

Then we return to the original question: why post openly blasphemous images?

To educate people about paintings that look like icons, but which are not good and proper icons. With some images, it's obvious to most people that they're wrong (like the ones you called "blows to the eyes"), but with many other images, like the Moskovskaya you mentioned, or the Sergius and Bacchus the nuns had copied in honest ignorance, it's not so obvious.

 

[Dominika]

 

[Orest]

That one takes the prize for the worst I have ever seen.

 

[hecma925]

Really?

 

[Svartzorn]

If you ask me that's crossing the line:

 

[hecma925]

 

[Dominika]

^^ do you mean usage of an icon and quotations from Bible and saints for the ecological movements?

 

[hecma925]

^^ do you mean usage of an icon and quotations from Bible and saints for the ecological movements?

Correct.

https://www.orthodoxartsjournal.org/the-making-of-a-new-icon-christ-breaking-the-bonds-of-animal-suffering/

 

[Eamonomae]

I’m in Louisville, Kentucky with my family on vacation, and this was near the hotel we are staying at.

For reference:

 

[Dominika]

 

[Asteriktos]

I'm going to assume you misclicked and meant to put this in the "favorite icons" thread  :angel:

 

[rakovsky]

"Ruler of the Cosmos" (2018) by Joni Zavitsanos

"The domes of Orthodox Churches around the world hold the strong and vibrant figure of Christ the Pantocrator or 'Ruler of the Universe'. In my depiction, Patriarch Bartholomew, persecuted in his native country and abroad, yet steadfast and unwavering in his love for God and mankind, and strong in his leadership of well over 3 million Orthodox Christians around the globe, is shown in the heavens as our ruler, who, while living with us on this earth, stands in the place of Christ and imitates Him."

SOURCE: https://jonizavitsanos.com/

Fordham University featuring modern Byzantine Iconography art exhibit by Joni Zavitsanos, opening Sep 12

Ms. Zavitsanos is the wife of National Council member John Zavitsanos, Esq., who was recently named the 2019 recipient of the Nicholas J. Bouras Award for Extraordinary Archon Stewardship. ... Ms. Zavitsanos’ extensive experience creating multimedia art reflecting a variety of cultures led to her exposure to Byzantine iconography, the earliest form of Christian art, which she uses to develop themes including the afterlife. The influence of her father (also an Archon) renowned Byzantine iconographer Diamantis Cassis, is also proudly visible in all her work.
https://www.archons.org/-/joni-zavitsanos-art-exhibit

 

[HaydenTE]

New entries from Monastery Icons

“Savior of America”

“Our Lady of America”

 

[hecma925]

Should have been a Greek flag.

 

[Mor Ephrem]

Should have been a Greek flag.

Or Romanian.

 

[hecma925]

Should have been a Greek flag.

Or Romanian.

More colorful.  I would prefer it.

 

[platypus]

It seems very appropriate. If the Christ wasn't American, how would he have spoken English well enough to write the King James Bible?

 

[hecma925]

It seems very appropriate. If the Christ wasn't American, how would he have spoken English well enough to write the King James Bible?

Well said.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

Came across this while looking for a nice image of a Pentecost icon on Google.

Ugh.

 

[WPM]

Yes.

 

[WPM]

America should be consecrated to the Virgin Mary.

 

[Mor Ephrem]

America should be consecrated to the Virgin Mary.

I agree.

 

[Dominika]

I'm not sure if it has been already posted

 

[Justin Kolodziej]

"Ruler of the Cosmos" (2018) by Joni Zavitsanos

"The domes of Orthodox Churches around the world hold the strong and vibrant figure of Christ the Pantocrator or 'Ruler of the Universe'. In my depiction, Patriarch Bartholomew, persecuted in his native country and abroad, yet steadfast and unwavering in his love for God and mankind, and strong in his leadership of well over 3 million Orthodox Christians around the globe, is shown in the heavens as our ruler, who, while living with us on this earth, stands in the place of Christ and imitates Him."

SOURCE: https://jonizavitsanos.com/

Fordham University featuring modern Byzantine Iconography art exhibit by Joni Zavitsanos, opening Sep 12

Ms. Zavitsanos is the wife of National Council member John Zavitsanos, Esq., who was recently named the 2019 recipient of the Nicholas J. Bouras Award for Extraordinary Archon Stewardship. ... Ms. Zavitsanos’ extensive experience creating multimedia art reflecting a variety of cultures led to her exposure to Byzantine iconography, the earliest form of Christian art, which she uses to develop themes including the afterlife. The influence of her father (also an Archon) renowned Byzantine iconographer Diamantis Cassis, is also proudly visible in all her work.
https://www.archons.org/-/joni-zavitsanos-art-exhibit

You have discovered the schlockiest of the schlock icons. Congratulations?

 

[Dominika]

 

[Dominika]

 

[Ainnir]

I mean, it had to happen...

 

[HaydenTE]

I can’t tell if our Lord is putting the mask on or taking the mask off.

 

[hecma925]

 

[krillyboy]

This has long been one of my favorite threads on this site, so I felt obligated to contribute when I found this... *thing*

Ah yes, of course, the angel of death, who is also Christ, who is also the Theotokos, above the cross (with the bottom bar facing the wrong way), which is also the Theotokos. You can't make this up folks.

 

[Dominika]

By Angelo Bottali

 

[brlon]

By Angelo Bottali

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