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Strange icons

LukeDM

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I mean, yeah it's cute and all (very cute, really), but I'm not sure what it's trying to say. Seems really ambiguous and sentimental to me.
 
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Does anyone feel remotely uncomfortable making fun of icons (or pictures) that don't meet up to Orthodox standards yet somehow depict a person we love and honor?
 
Asteriktos

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Does anyone have the image saved of the large free-standing icon in (I think) a Coptic parish with lights running around the outside/frame?
 
LukeDM

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Stinky said:
Does anyone feel remotely uncomfortable making fun of icons (or pictures) that don't meet up to Orthodox standards yet somehow depict a person we love and honor?
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To me, it's more of a criticism of the teaching behind the icon. If somebody drew a picture of your own father with no ears, wouldn't you think it was funny? Would you possibly joke to your father about it? Of course I don't intend any disrespect to the Theotokos. I'm just pointing out that it doesn't make sense, and icons are not intended to just depict any old subject we want, especially without historical precedent. Read the responses of the Fathers to those who held erroneous opinions. They were often very acrimonious and oftentimes very snarky in responding to beliefs they found to be wrong. I don't see any problem in discussing the finer points of iconography, whether its veiled in a layer of humor or not.
 
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LukeDM said:
To me, it's more of a criticism of the teaching behind the icon. If somebody drew a picture of your own father with no ears, wouldn't you think it was funny? Would you possibly joke to your father about it? Of course I don't intend any disrespect to the Theotokos. I'm just pointing out that it doesn't make sense, and icons are not intended to just depict any old subject we want, especially without historical precedent. Read the responses of the Fathers to those who held erroneous opinions. They were often very acrimonious and oftentimes very snarky in responding to beliefs they found to be wrong. I don't see any problem in discussing the finer points of iconography, whether its veiled in a layer of humor or not.
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Thank you for explaining this. It's a delicate tightrope.
 
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Dominika said:
Strange or schlock? Or none of both?

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This appears to reflect words found towards the end of the prayer recited by the priest during the Cherubikon (".....He who offers and is offered.....").

The subject might exist properly in the "decorative" frescoes within the church building, particularly within the altar, or in liturgical manuscripts; it is perhaps questionable as a panel icon. The execution maybe is not the best. The omophor is rather "Eastern Catholic" in style.
 
Dominika

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brlon said:
This appears to reflect words found towards the end of the prayer recited by the priest during the Cherubikon (".....He who offers and is offered.....").

The subject might exist properly in the "decorative" frescoes within the church building, particularly within the altar, or in liturgical manuscripts; it is perhaps questionable as a panel icon. The execution maybe is not the best. The omophor is rather "Eastern Catholic" in style.
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As the interpretation, I agree, it's the most probable solution.
But I wouldn't say the omophorion looks Eastern Catholic...
 
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Sorry. My mistake. I did imagine I could see some differences between the top row (episcopal ordination, St George Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Lviv) and the bottom row (Greek and Russian Orthodox, consecration of St Nicholas Cathedral, Kronstadt).

Admittedly, one may see the "Orthodox" style omophor in Ukraine but I have never seen the Latin "pallium" ('ready-folded') style in any Orthodox church.
Image1.jpg
 
hecma925

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biro said:
The man looks to be smiling.

And a parrot! Did the saint own a parrot? :)
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Saint Porphyrios had a small parrot that he taught to pray in order to illustrate the absurdity of some Christians’ empty repetition of the words of prayer, as well as the ridiculousness of the opinion commonly presented in Eastern religions that someone can make moral advances by physical exercises or breathing techniques. Every so often, the parrot would mechanically say, “Lord, have mercy.” The elder would respond, “Look, the parrot can say the prayer, but does that mean that it is praying? Can prayer exist without the conscious and free participation of the person who prays?”
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anothercity.org

St. Paisios: How the Jesus Prayer Differs from the Hindu Mantra

One of the greatest spiritual gifts that Elder Paisios gave me was his guidance along the mystical path of the Jesus Prayer. This started at the beginning of our acquaintance and continued until his repose twelve years later.
anothercity.org anothercity.org
 
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