👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾“And You, Son of Man, Take a #Brick and #Draw the City of #Jerusalem Upon It” — The Divine Meaning of Sacred Images and Their Place in Worship (#Ezekiel 4:1)
(Part 9)
Beloved brothers and sisters in the faith of the Orthodox Church, peace be unto you in the name of our Lord. Today, we meditate upon the sacred word spoken to the prophet Ezekiel:
“And you, son of man, take a brick and lay it before you, and draw a picture of the city of Jerusalem on it; and circle it.” (Ezekiel 4:1)
This divine instruction, filled with profound mystery, opens to us the deep origin and sanctity of sacred images within the Church of God.
1. The Beginning of Sacred Images in Divine Revelation
From the earliest times, God used visible signs to reveal invisible truths. In the days of Moses, the Lord Himself commanded that cherubim be carved upon the Ark of the Covenant:
“And you shall make one cherub on one side and another cherub on the other side... and the cherubim shall spread out their wings, covering the mercy seat.” (Exodus 25:19–20)
Likewise, Solomon adorned the Holy Temple with images of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, all overlaid with gold. (1 Kings 6:23–29) These were not idols, but sacred representations of heavenly realities symbols of the divine presence among His people.
Ezekiel, following this divine tradition, was commanded to draw Jerusalem upon a brick. This act was not mere artistry; it was prophecy through image. The brick became a message from God showing the siege, the judgment, and the redemption of the Holy City. Thus, the drawing of images became a form of sacred teaching.
2. The Sacred Purpose of Holy Icons
From the caves of early believers to the sanctuaries of today, holy images have served as visible gospels teachers for the eyes, guiding the faithful toward unseen truth. The ancients painted the stories of Scripture, the struggles of the martyrs, and the triumphs of faith, so that even those who could not read might behold the works of God.
Through time, the Church faced division over this holy practice. In the eighth century, two errors arose:
Iconolatry, those who worshiped the images as gods,
Economia, those who rejected the use of images altogether.
But the Holy Spirit guided the Church to truth at the Second Council of Nicaea (787 A.D.), where it was declared that holy images are to be venerated, not worshiped. They are windows into heaven, revealing the glory of God, His saints, and His mysteries.
3. The Canon and Meaning of Holy Icons
The sacred images used in the Holy Church were painted by people chosen by God. For example, the first to paint the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for Emperor Tiberius was Saint John the Evangelist. The canon of sacred images is based on the Church’s rules for painting and use. Since they are placed in the church, the faithful stand before the images and offer their petitions.
When painting sacred images, one must first ask God, the Owner of Holiness, in prayer. Since He is the source of knowledge and wisdom, He will grant us the grace to paint the image. The use of colors in sacred images is also part of the Church’s tradition and not arbitrary. For example:
Red:- represents the blood of martyrdom, the courage of the saints.
White:- represents purity and holiness, seen in the Resurrection and the Virgin Mary.
Blue:- symbolizes divinity and eternal majesty, used in depictions of the Holy Trinity.
Continues 👇🏾