Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Holy Monastery of Saint John, Apostle Luke’s School of Iconography Byzantine Iconography Symbolism Icon of Christ being tempted in the desert The Holy Fathers depicted the visible and the invisible in iconography abstractly, using the Symbolic Language of Byzantine Iconography. How do we depict Christ in an icon? An example of the Symbolic Language CONSIDER EARTH Earth has a visible component (what we see around us and from space), but also an invisible component (its magnetic field). SO… How do we show the visible (human) and the invisible (divine) in iconography, two components which are inseparable in the person of Jesus Christ? TRUTH Christ was tempted just like us, Adam and Eve. So he does have a human nature. POINT OF VIEW The reverse perspective of buildings, mountains etc. guides the eyes to the focal point in the icon. SIZE OF FIGURES The Tempter is always shown as a small figure so as to calm us during prayer and to show that Christ has defeated him. HISTORICAL FACTS Christ was tempted three times in the desert after his 40 day fast (Gospel of Matthew). COLOURS Christ wears clothes of Red and Blue representing His two natures. Red symbolizes His Human and blue the Divine nature NO SHADOWS The light does not come from the sun, but from within, i.e. from the Holy Spirit dwelling in the person or object. PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL When the tempter saw that Christ was hungry after his 40-day fast, he told him to turn these stones into bread. Christ replied: “Man does not live on bread alone…” (Mathew 4:1-11).

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaHoly Monastery of Saint John, Apostle Luke’s School of Iconography

Byzantine Iconography Symbolism

Icon of Christ being tempted in the desert

The Holy Fathers depicted the visible and the invisible in iconography abstractly, using the

Symbolic Language of Byzantine Iconography.

How do we depict Christ in an icon? An example of the Symbolic Language

CONSIDER EARTH

Earth has a visible component (what we see around us and from space), but also an invisible component (its magnetic field).

SO…

How do we show the visible (human) and the invisible (divine) in iconography, two components which are inseparable in the person of Jesus Christ?

TRUTH

Christ was tempted just like

us, Adam and Eve. So he does have a human

nature.

POINT OF VIEW

The reverse perspective of

buildings, mountains etc.

guides the eyes to the focal point in

the icon.

SIZE OF FIGURESThe Tempter is always shown as a small figure so as to calm us during

prayer and to show that Christ has defeated him.

HISTORICAL FACTS

Christ was tempted three times in the desert after his 40 day fast (Gospel of

Matthew).

COLOURS

Christ wears clothes of Red and Blue

representing His two natures. Red

symbolizes His Human and blue the

Divine nature

NO SHADOWS

The light does not come from the sun, but from within, i.e. from the Holy Spirit dwelling in the person or object.

PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL

When the tempter saw that Christ was hungry after his 40-day fast, he told him to turn these stones into bread. Christ replied: “Man does not live on bread alone…” (Mathew 4:1-11).