The Tradition of Sacred Painting

Continued 👇🏾 The Tradition of Sacred Painting From ancient times the Church was adorning her temples with sacred paintings. The walls of holy churches testifying with color the mysteries of the faith. Tradition tells us that Saint Luke the Evangelist painted the first image of the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos. This is received by others, though rejected by Protestants who cast aside the living tradition. We also recall the holy tradition of the icon of Christ given to the King . When the king longed to behold the Lord’s face, a painter was sent. Yet Christ’s suffering covered His countenance with blood.. Then the righteous Veronica, moved with compassion, wiped His face with a cloth, and behold! His image was imprinted upon it not by human hand, but by divine power. This became the holy icon known as the Veronica's image. The ancient Church also used symbols: the rooster, recalling Peter’s tears of repentance; the donkey, symbol of Christ’s humility; and many others. It is also said that Saint John painted the image of the Crucifixion for Tiberius Caesar, bearing witness in the early Church to the centrality of the holy icons.showing how deep the roots of sacred art extend in our tradition. Prostration Before Holy Icons But what of the commandment: “You shall not bow down to them or serve them” (Exodus 20:5)? Does our prostration not contradict this? Understand, beloved: the Church does not bow to idols, nor serve them. Our prostration before the Ark, before the Cross, before the images of Christ and His saints, is not worship of wood or paint, but reverence for God and for those who bore witness to Him. God Himself commanded the making of the Ark, promising to dwell upon it. God is not man that He should change. The prohibition was against false gods; the commandment to fashion the Ark was holy, and its reverence was commanded. Thus, when we bow before a holy icon, our reverence ascends to Christ, to His Mother, to His saints. We distinguish holy icons from idols as day from night. For idols belong to demons, but holy icons belong to God. Idols deceive and destroy, but holy icons remind, instruct, and sanctify. Conclusion Therefore, dearly beloved, let no one confuse our holy prostrations with idolatry. We worship God alone. But we honor His saints, for they honored Him with their blood. We bow before their icons, not as idols, but as windows to heaven, ladders of remembrance, conduits of blessing. Let us, then, with boldness of faith and without doubt, bow before the holy icons not to wood, not to color, but to Christ our Lord and to His victorious saints, whose faces shine in them. And may our prostrations be received as prayers rising to heaven. Part 2 Continues ... May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends:https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance