Okay so lemme walk you through how I actually got into understanding those Eastern Orthodox icons. Always walked past ’em in churches thinking they were just old paintings till I took a trip to Greece last year and got curious. Total beginner here.
Started With Zero Clues
First time I saw one up close? Totally lost. Friend pointed at this stiff-looking dude with a halo holding a book in a tiny chapel. Felt like staring at hieroglyphs. Grabbed my phone right there – snapped pics while thinking “Why’s everyone bowing? Why the flat faces?” Zero context.
Dove Into Weird Free Stuff
Went down a rabbit hole when I got home. Poked around dusty library corners and weird niche blogs. Realized icons ain’t just art – they’re like theology in picture form. Scrawled notes till my hand cramped:
- Look at the eyes first: Wide-open? Means they’re seeing heaven. Gets that intense stare vibe.
- Gold isn’t just fancy: Shiny backgrounds = holy light swallowing up normal space.
- Hands tell stories: Pointing up? Jesus blessing. Holding tools? Martyrs showing how they got killed. Dark stuff.
Tried Copying One – Fail!
Bought cheap wood planks and egg tempera paint. Tried copying a simple Saint Nicholas icon. Epic disaster. Couldn’t even get the nose right – flat like a pancake! Hands looked like bloated sausages. Quit after three days realizing the styles take decades to master. Huge respect for those old masters now.
Talked to an Actual Priest
Visited a tiny Orthodox parish near me. Nervously cornered Father Mark after service – expected complex answers. Instead he just smiled and broke it down:
- “See how Mary points at Jesus? She’s showing us He’s the Way.”
- “The halos? Not decoration. Radiance pouring from inside.”
- Then dropped wisdom: “Don’t analyze. Just stand there. Let it pray for you.” Mind blown.
Sat Quietly in a Chapel
Took Father Mark’s advice. Spent an afternoon in candle-lit silence staring at one Theotokos icon. Didn’t dissect colors or symbols. Just existed there. Weirdest thing – started noticing how calm the brushstrokes felt. Like quietness turned visual. Left feeling lighter. Didn’t need to “figure it out” anymore.
So yeah. If you’re staring at icons like I did – confused and squinting – slow down. Forget art class rules. Toss the jargon. Start with staring. End with stillness. They’ll sink in deeper that way.
