What is the icon of the Theotokos?
The Panagia Portaitissa (Greek: Παναγία Πορταΐτισσα; Georgian: ივერიის ღვთისმშობლის ხატი) also known as the Iviron Theotokos or Iverskaya in Russian, is an Eastern Orthodox icon of the Virgin Mary in the Georgian Iviron monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, where it is believed to have been since the year 999.
What does it mean to venerate an icon?
Iconolatry (Greek: εἰκών, eikon, ‘picture or image’, + λατρεία, latreia, ‘veritable (full) worship or adoration’) designates the idolatric worship or adoration of icons. In the history of Christianity, iconolatry was manifested mainly in popular worship, as a superstitious belief in the divine nature of icons.
What is icon in the Bible?
icon, in Eastern Christian tradition, a representation of sacred personages or events in mural painting, mosaic, or wood.
What do the stars on Mary’s veil mean?
ever-Virgin
Wearing a veil with three stars, on her forehead and each shoulder to signify that she is ever-Virgin, Mary’s attitude is one of majesty. Christ is pictured as a small but mature person who looks straight at us and blesses us.
What is the difference between an idol and an icon?
Therefore, the main difference between the idol and the icon appears to be the authenticity of what they represent: the idol is a false god, as the icon is the presence of the true god.
What is the function of an icon?
An icon is a small image, usually a symbol, used to graphically represent a software program, file, or function on a computer screen. Icons make it easier to recognize and locate items on your computer or features within a program.
What does the Bible say about the veneration of icons?
Veneration of Icons and Religious Images A: It is the first commandment that makes reference to graven images and idols (Deut. 4,15-16). This aspect of the first commandment means not to replace God the ineffable and omnipotent with a graven image. He is infinitely greater than all the material aliases of him.
Who are the icons of faith?
They are not simply artworks; “an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion”. The most common subjects include Christ, Mary, saints and angels.
Why is Mary called as Theotokos?
The Church declared that both Divine and human natures were united in the person of Jesus, the son of Mary. Hence, Mary may be called Theotokos, since the son she bore according to the flesh, Jesus, is truly one of the Divine persons of the Trinity.
Is Mary the Theotokos?
Theotokos (Greek: Θεοτόκος, Greek pronunciation: [θeoˈtokos]) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity.
What does being an icon mean?
1 : a person or thing widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere a civil rights icon an actor and fashion icon …
What are icons in Christianity?
An icon (from Ancient Greek εἰκών (eikṓn) ‘image, resemblance’) is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, and certain Eastern Catholic churches.
What does the Catholic Church say about icons?
Answer: There is no rule against Roman Catholics keeping or honoring the presence of icons or a norm restricting them to Eastern Christians.