Icons play an important role in the Eastern Orthodox church, both historically and in the modern world. Icons are images of saints and other religious figures painted in a very specific style. The images themselves and the style of painting remain relatively unchanged over the centuries. While there are many different Byzantine icons, several of these are especially important in the church.
Christ
The most important icon in the Byzantine church is Christ Pantokrator or Christ the Almighty. Set against a gold background, Christ stands with a large round halo behind his head. He carries the Gospels and is typically dressed in a simple robe, draped with a regal blue. The view is full frontal in painted icons, but also appears in the dome of many Byzantine churches.
The Virgin Mary
Images of the Mother of God or Theotokos are one of the main Byzantine icons. The most common of these is the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ. She may be pointing toward the child, embracing him or holding him in her lap. Mary is also portrayed alone or with the Christ child in a circle in her womb.
Christ's Contemporaries
Images of the Gospel writers, the apostles and John the Baptist are all among the most frequently depicted icons. These images frequently flank the icons of Christ Pantokrator and Theotokos on the iconostasis or screen of a Byzantine or Eastern Orthodox church. Each of these figures has specific attributes and set portrayals that indicate who the icon represents.
Military Saints
While images of saints make up the majority of icons, the main saints depicted in icons are military saints. These include St. Demetrius of Thessalonika, St. George and St. Theodore the Recruit. Each icon is easily recognizable by the armor, actions and details used to portray the saint.
The Function of Icons
While images of Christ and other key religious figures decorate churches in the West, in the Eastern Orthodox church images serve as a devotional tool. Icons offer the individual a way to direct their requests for intercession to the saints or Virgin Mary. As such, the images are each created in a prescribed way to serve their function and are more than just decoration.
