Pictures of Salvation
Dear Children of God! How are you? How have you been in this New Year and the season of summer? Have you planned good things in this year and put it into practice? We hope your good wishes will come true in this year.
Little ones, if you remember we ended our lesson of last year with questions and answers from the education we have been presenting it to you consequently. It was significant trial and lesson for you to test yourself. May our Lord make this year as fruitful for as well! Good!
Now, we will proceed to the present lesson which is about “Holy Icons” that are also known as “Pictures of Salvation.” Our Holy Orthodox Incarnation (Tewahedo) Church has doctrine (teaching) about holy pictures of our Lord, God, Holy Mother Saint Mary, the Archangels, Angels, Saints, Holies, Hermits, Monks and Martyrs.
These holy icons are kept foremost in Holy Church and other sacred (blessed, holy) places of worship (prayer, fast, prostration, offerings and alms giving). Laities (Christians) adapt the ritual of kneeling before the pictures, kept in neat and honored places. The holy icons are pictures of salvation and therefore, after venerating (respecting) them by prostration, servile and laities have the ritual of praying, praising and worshiping. The whole tendency of these Christians endeavors is receiving mercy from God and praising the Lord in return.
Every holy icon has its own meaning and interpretation according to the aim and story. Regards the doctrine, we perform veneration (respect in praise of songs, hymns, clapping and prostration). Especially on holidays celebrated in church, they are venerated much by songs and Yaredic hymns supported by clapping and “eleleta”.
Some of the known and venerated holy icons in the entire orthodox community are:-
The main aims of holy icons are as mention above for first presenting veneration, praise and honor of the holy in front of us painted. What we have to understand very importantly is to have faith on talking with God, our mother Saint Mary, the Angles and other Saints to be given mercy and salvation.
Primitively, it was Saints who paint holy icons order by God. First the Lord orders Prophet Mosses to carve the Arc of the Covenant for the purpose of worship. (Exodus 25:9-40) Then, after the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, Saint John the apostle painted Him with the depiction of crucified on the cross. Later on, Saint Luke the apostle painted Him as He was a baby with His mother Virgin Mary.
Onwards, holy icons have been painted by many other painters and still, artists of various kinds are painting holy icons depending on the services at hand. Though their talent and experience vary, painters tendency is to keep the face, figure, clothing and surroundings of the saints with their hagiography (story).
The art of painting holy icons is a wisdom given by God to saints first. Due to the honor, sanctification (purity) and hagiography, they are painted in church, Holy Scriptures as well as other sacred places of worship. This has been done from the age of Torah in the Old Testament up to the now, within the New Testament.
This is a ritual we have been keeping through the order and Liturgy of the church. Even in the future, we will embrace holy icons for the worship of God, veneration of His mother Saint Virgin Mary, the Angels and other Saints as well as for the function of intercession and meditation for the salvation of us.
Dear Children of God! we hope you honor, venerate and have faith for holy icons in your heart, spiritual life and Christians livings. It is important, to realize their honor, function, service and value. So whenever we see holy icons, we have prostrate (bow) in front of them and praise, respect, honor and plead in prayer.
Farewell children, we have finished our lessons for now. We hope you have understood all the themes (notions, ideas). We leave you with greeting and good wish in meeting you next time.
May God be with you: Amen!