THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ICONS IN HISTORY

The word icon derives from the Greek word EIKON. For centuries, icons have been known within Europe as great works of art on religioussubjects. The word icon does not only mean a picture or something painted but also has a deeper spiritual meaning. The icon expresses animitation of a picture in the mind and an interpretation of something living. It is a retrospective painting, the substitute for absent or unavailablereality. When we go through the old legends and hierologi we could say that people accepted the imagery of Christ and his saints as the primarilyobjects of transcendental power. During previous centuries, extraordinary powers were mainly attributed to paintings of martyrs. For instance ,they weresaid to have the ability to protect from disasters. In the early Orthodox Church the icon was accredited to be the greatest outward and creativeexpression of faith . Such was the devotion to icons of some worshippers during the reign of the Byzantine Empire that they believed them to be of more consequence than their own lives.