Edutainment > Orthodox Icons

The icons displayed on this page are works by artist Ioan Popei from Romania. All images are for personal viewing purposes only and are protected by copyrights. They may not be copied or distributed without the prior permission of the artist.

John the Baptist
copyright Ioan Popei

Orthodox icons are presently undergoing a Renaissance after the fall of Communist rule in Eastern Europe. Apart from their religious use icons are a coveted object for art collectors for their beauty and charm.

What does Icon Mean?

The word comes from the Greek language. Eikon means simply image.

What is an Iconostasis?

An Iconostasis is an altar screen in orthodox churches showing icons in a fixed order.

Who was Andrei Rublev?

Andrei Rublev was an icon painter in Russia living from around 1370 to 1430. He is considered to be the greatest iconographer of Russia. Andrei Rublev was a monk in the Trinity St.-Sergius Monastery. Not too much is known about his life.

What does Hagiography Mean?

A Hagiography is the biography of a saint in orthodox terminology. A Hagia is a female saint and a hagios is a male saint.

What does Epitaphios Mean?

Epitaphios is the holy shroud in which Jesus was buried until his resurrection.

Were Icons used for Decoration?

No - orthodox icons were strictly made for religious veneration. In the twentieth century Western collectors began to discover icons as collectable works of art.

Which Subjects are Shown on Orthodox Icons?

Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Apostles, saints, angels and religious events are depicted.

What does Pantokrator Mean?

Pantokrator comes from the Greek language. It means the "All Mighty" or "All Ruler" and is a synonym for an icon image of Jesus Christ. In this iconographic image, Jesus is displayed with a beard, his right hand raised for blessing and the left hand holding the gospel. An image of the Pantokrator is usually found in the center dome of a Byzantine church.

What is the Virgin Hodegeteria?

This is an iconographic image of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus on her arms. Jesus Christ makes a gesture of blessing.

Which were the Centers of Russian Icon Painting?

The main centers were the Kiev School, the Moscow School and the Schools of Novgorod and Pskov.

Which are the Regions of Orthodox Believe?

Russia, Greece and the Balkan countries. These are also the countries where icons were and are still created. Today also the United States has a large orthodox community. Also contemporary icon artists are to be found in the US.

What is Iconoclasm?

The Iconoclasts believed that the display of images of God or other Holy persons or saints was blasphemic idol worshipping. And therefore all images should be destroyed. the Iconoclasts were a strong mevement in the Greek church until 842 AD.

What is Obraz?

Obraz is the Russian word for an icon.

What does Theotokos Mean?

Theotokos is another name for the Virgin Mary. It means the "Bearer of God".

What is an Okhlad?

An Okhlad is a metal cover for an icon. Only the face and the hands of the image are to be seen. In the eighteenth and the nineteenth century the area of the image that was not to be seen, was not painted any more.

What is the Annunciation?

In the Christian belief this is the visit of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary announcing to her that she was chosen by God Father to give birth to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The images on this web site are the property of the artist(s) and or the artelino GmbH and/or a third company/institution.  Reproduction, public display and any commercial use of these images, in whole or in part, require the expressed written consent of the artist(s) and/or the artelino GmbH. . 

artelino sells Japanese prints from all periods, contemporary Chinese prints, Tibetan thangkas, metal statues and traditional carpets from Nepal/Tibet in art auctions. More than 650 art auctions and 13,000 registrations since 2001.
Auctions on Display | Our Art Products - Video | How to Register - Video | Register