The Iconostasis

An icon screen, or iconostasis, is a complex assembly of many smaller icons. It forms the front of an Orthodox church. It usually has all the feast scenes on one of its rows.  For more detail on the purpose of an icon screen, you can read this short article.

Here is the icon screen in St John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Washington, DC.

I have a folding (or traveling) icon screen. It is about 2 feet high and 5 feet wide. On this screen the feasts are on the second row up from the bottom.

Here are some detail shots of the panels on either side of the center:

Going from left to right we see Mary's birth, her presentation in the temple, the annunciation, the nativity of Jesus, his presentation, his baptism (also called the epiphany or appearance of God), and his entering into Jerusalem.

Continuing on the right side of the screen, we see:

The Ascension of Christ, the Old Testament Trinity, the Transfiguration, the Dormition (falling asleep) of Mary, the Death of John the Baptist, the Exaltation of the Cross and a scene I'll have to research further.

On the center panel of the icon screen we find:

At the top, crowned John and Mary are showing adoration to Christ while holding up prophecies about him. Below on the left is a Resurrection / Descent icon showing Christ breaking down the gates of Hades, and on the right is the Crucifixion. Below those is the Last Supper, then Annunciation, and finally at the bottom, the Four Evangelists.

There are two scenes of the Annunciation on this traveling iconostasis. Was it intentional, or an accident? I don't know.

The other images shown in the rows of this iconostasis include angels, cherubim and seraphim; Saints, Prophets and Apostles.

GREAT FEASTS Icons

The church helps its members recall the life of Jesus Christ by celebrating events of his life and ministry each year. These events unveiled some of God's character - His love and His holiness - and His activity in our world.

There is a specific type of multi-scene icon that presents an assortment of these holy days, festivals or feasts on a single board (or casting). The selection of feasts and their arrangement may vary from icon to icon, but the norm is to show 12 or 16 scenes.

Of the normal dozen events portrayed on a feast icon, six focus on Jesus: Nativity, Presentation in the Temple (Candlemas), Epiphany (Baptism), Transfiguration, Entry into Jerusalem, Ascension. Four center around Mary: Birth, Presentation in the Temple, Annunciation, Dormition (Assumption). The final two are Pentecost (Coming of the Holy Spirit) and the Elevation of the Cross.

Feast icons may have other scenes as well, including the Women with Spices at the Tomb, the Crucifixion, the Descent into Hades, the Raising of Lazarus, Lowering Christ from the Cross, the Last Supper, the Old Testament Trinity, and so on.

Here are some of my feast icons. The first one, a cast metal icon, contains all the principal feasts plus a few extra images of Mary on the far right panel. I have named each of the scenes at the bottom to help you decipher this icon. [Click on any image to enlarge it]

The next icon has an embossed and perforated copper cover which shields all the images, leaving only faces, hands and bare feet showing through. It was customary to paint the icon on a board, and then make a cover that enhanced and glorified the icon. This icon was done in a way that saved the iconographer a lot of work. He just did an outline of the whole scene but painted the exposed areas in detail. Look at the two images to see what I mean.

Only the barest outline drawing was done on the board. The mystery and miracle of this icon is that the gilded faces fit the openings in the cover perfectly. So which was done first, the icon or the cover? It seems to have been a near-impossible task no matter in what order it was completed.

This is a Palekh (a village renowned for lacquer boxes) festival icon. The Four Evangelists are at the outer corners. On the inside, starting from the top left and going clockwise, we have the Birth of Mary, the Presentation of Mary, the Annunciation, the Nativity of Jesus, the Baptism, the Transfiguration, the Dormition of Mary, the Exaltation of the Cross, the Old Testament Trinity, the Ascension, Entering into Jerusalem, and the Presentation of Jesus to Simeon. In the center is another multi-scene icon known as the Resurrection and Judgement. It shows various events that occurred during Jesus' passion and resurrection. For example, the resurrected Jesus walks along the shoreline and tells the disciples to fish on the other side of the boat. After they catch a bunch of fish, Peter recognizes him, and jumps into the water (bottom right).

And here is one from the Ural Mountains region of Russia. Let's look at the scenes individually.

The birth or nativity of Mary

the Presentation of Mary in the Temple

The Annunciation (Gabriel speaking to Mary; there is some minor damage to this scene)

The Nativity of Christ and also the Visitation of the Wise Men

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

The Baptism and Epiphany

Entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

The Transfiguration of Jesus and his meeting with Elijah and Moses

Pentecost (Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles and Mary)

The Old Testament Trinity (visit of 3 angelic beings to Abram and Sarah at the oak of Mamre)

The Dormition (falling asleep) or Assumption (being carried up) of Mary

The Exaltation of the True Cross

The Resurrection of Jesus
(notice Peter again, coming out of the lake)

Christ Glorified in the Highest Heavens

This tiny scene is repeated in much larger scale and detail on another icon we own:

One Icon Resembles Another

Almost all icons portray biblical characters or scenes. Alternatively, they may recall medieval saints, faithful believers and martyrs, or current saints. First-time observers often notice that one icon is very like another - oh perhaps some differences in color or interpretation of detail, but overall they duplicate other icons of the same theme. A Western mind might immediately think "plagiarism" or if not that, at least "lack of creativity."

PAINTED COPIES

Here are a few examples of what I mean. The original - an icon of the Archangel Michael. It was painted in Constantinople in the 14th Century, and is on display in the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens.

The copy - an icon painted by Jackie in the UK in 2010. It's clearly a copy, although painted in a smaller size, with different materials, and in brighter colors (though the original was bright once).

Here is another icon. It shows Christ leading the disciples up the mountain, his transfiguration (glowing brightly), his conference with Elijah and Moses, his disciples being confused and afraid, and finally Jesus leading them down the mountain. This is a school icon - a teaching tool. It is in my collection.

It's called the Transfiguration.

Here is another, much more famous, and much "better" version of this same icon. However they differ in style and execution, theologically and devotionally they serve the same purpose. The characters shown are the same; the event is the same.

Here is a third version of the same icon - in progress - being painted as I write by Teresa Harrison.

Good icons are intentionally copied from previous works. As they draw and paint, iconographers are duplicating the layout, design, colors and so forth of an earlier icon. This is Orthodoxy and tradition, not plagiarism. Here is a pattern drawing of the Transfiguration icon, from a reference book used by iconographers.

MECHANICAL COPIES

With modern technologies, it is possible to produce inexpensive printed icons. Icons can be printed on paper, foam board, canvas, or other material. You might argue that these copies are less "an original work of art" than a painted icon on a gesso-coated board, but it would be wrong to say that they cannot serve a liturgical purpose in the lives of those who display or venerate them.

We have decided to make some copies of the icons that we have been painting, for several reasons. First, to recall the year-long project. Second, to share the joy of making these pieces among our small community of iconographers. We know those who commissioned them will benefit from having the originals in their presence. Third, to offer copies to people who are interested in owning a printed icon.

It's not easy to photograph icons (new ones especially), because of the intense reflections from the gilded areas. It can confuse the camera and cause various problems. Notice the modern icon below and the effect of the gold leaf compared to the painted areas.

So we went to get some professional help with this challenge, knowing we had large, valuable objects that would be getting completed, one at a time, over a period of many months.

The copies we have made (with the aid of Chrome Digital, our local graphic arts experts) are based on photographs taken in their studio under identical conditions. The digital images are adjusted and prepared with Photoshop.

Eventually they are printed on canvas, then stretched over a wooden frame. Here are the first six icons. These images are low-resolution versions of those used to create the printed copies.

This icon portrays Christ in Gethsemane

They differ slightly from the real icons because we wanted an identical border of a consistent color on each of them. These are wrapped around the frame. And of course the reflections and colors of the gold are now fixed, whereas on the real icons the light is always playing on the gold.

This is the Crucifixion

You may notice that some of the icons have a beveled edge on the outside of the gilded area. This is meant to look three-dimensional, and it does. But in fact it is a trick played on your eyes by the light on the gold. The board is actually flat. We rub the gold leaf with cotton balls in a special way, which causes the beveled look.

This is the Descent from the Cross

This particular set of icons were chosen by the church that asked Teresa to create them. She created the outline drawings in sizes they wanted, and adjusted the images and colors to create a consistent look - so they look like a set together. You will have to judge for yourself how well that was achieved.

This is the Resurrection

This is the Ascension

The final icon is Christ Enthroned

PS - there are four more underway.

How to Accumulate Icons

This blog describes my personal collecting methods. Yours may vary, but you should be able to learn some things from my experience. I am not Orthodox nor Russian, so I had no background in this form of sacred art, or indeed in any form of visual arts.

I started by buying a few icons, then I read books about them. I scoured the Internet. I went to museums and looked in shops. I have found a few people who love icons, and some of them have become good friends.

I've been able to spend time with icons - in person, Internet, and museums. And I have spent time corresponding with other icon lovers - mostly dealers but also some collectors.

Icons are rare enough in the United States that you don't often find them in retail stores or the average antique shop. Those that I have seen tend to be more sentimental Western images, or cheap prints laminated onto a board. This is a page from a book that I put onto a scrap of wood, to go into a crypt as a memorial for a family member. In the photo it looks old. In person you would see that it is not.

SOURCES

In my experience, the main choices for purchasing Greek or Russian icons are these:

• Specialist Dealer in Icons (via website or in person)
• From a Tourist Shop in the Holy Land, or Turkey, or ...

• Traditional Auction House or Specialist Auction
• Internet auction sources such as eBay
• Private party sale
• Directly from an iconographer
• Mail order catalog (new or mechanically-copied icons)

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the great things about wandering / browsing through a good dealer's shop is that you see things you were not expecting. Like this carving (not an icon) which I found in a church antique / salvage shop (yes, they do take churches apart and resell everything).

And there you get to meet people who can tell you more about what you want to learn. Not just the dealers themselves, but sometimes their family members, or other customers who are in the shop. A danger is that you might want to buy something.

That can involve currency exchange, shipping costs and weeks of worry when you get home and your icon has not arrived. Or squeezing the icon into your suitcase and then having to explain it to the customs and immigration officers.

It's possible to do the same thing via the web but it takes more time and persistence, and many more emails to accomplish what a short visit can do. Here is one of my dealer friends showing a beautiful newly-painted icon that he received for his 40th birthday.

If you can find a real iconographer, have a long talk with her or him. They will know sources for locating new or old icons, although I suspect active collectors will have more to say on the subject.

I commissioned this icon from Jackie (pictured above) after meeting her at a church in England.

DEALERS

I've purchased one or more icons from each of these dealers:

The Temple Gallery in London

The Russian Store in West Palm Beach and New York City

Motka in Pennsylvania and eBay

Russian Icon in Estonia

Russian Icons in Lithuania

Icon Gallery Moenius in Regensburg, Germany

Iconastas in London

and no doubt from some others that I have forgotten (sorry). In addition, I have bought a few directly from iconographers (for example, Aidan Hart Icons in England), and some from other collectors.

CHURCHES

When you travel, try to visit churches and ask politely if you can look around. You will learn a lot about the kind of icons they have, and how church icons compare to home icons. They might not invite photography, so ask first if it's ok.

Holy Virgin Cathedral, San Francisco, CA

Saints Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church, San Marcos, CA

MUSEUMS

Other sources of inspiration for me include museums that feature icons. The J. Paul Getty Museum has occasional displays of fantastic icons, such as the icons from St. Catherine's on Mount Sinai, and other related religious art from Europe. Here I am admiring an Italian work at the Getty.

This is a 14th century ivory carving in the style of the Dormition of the Virgin icon, 

from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London June 2013

The view shown below is the main floor of the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA.

On a visit several years ago, I was able to meet Gordon Lankton, the founder of the museum (below), who is himself a real collector. The museum is essentially his personal collection from 20+ years of searching for icons.

When you visit museums to get a sense of the things they collect, you can see how their needs differ from what a person might buy. This is the Timken Museum in San Diego. I am fortunate to live close by, so I have often enjoyed their icons (and other art).

EXHIBITS

If you see a notice of special icon shows or exhibitions, try to attend one. You may see icons that you wouldn't ever imagine might exist. Your eyes will be opened.

Like the fantastic 2-sided icon that appears in the photos above and below, which I saw in New York City in September 2012. This exhibit was put together by icon dealer Dennis Easter (shown at podium and smiling below).