The Blessing of the Icons
Saint Michael’s Parish is auspice to an ecumenical icon writing group which meets every second Wednesday of the month throughout the year. We began five years ago and our numbers are growing. There are now ten of us who meet to portray with the things of earth the things of heaven.
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Images of Jesus, his blessed mother, the angels and saints are rendered with coloured pigments onto a linen covered board with a white gesso surface. An icon is ‘written’ because it tells a story and as we enter into the ‘writing’ process, we recall to mind holy lives and resolve to imitate their example. Icon writing has a long history, particularly within the Orthodox Christian Church. In that tradition, icons are said to be written, not painted. The Orthodox consider making icons more a form of prayer than art, and they believe the iconographer’s hand is guided by God. As they apply paint to board, the process can be seen as a spiritual and prayerful one as paint is carefully applied to board.
Images of Jesus, his blessed mother, the angels and saints are rendered with coloured pigments onto a linen covered board with a white gesso surface. An icon is ‘written’ because it tells a story and as we enter into the ‘writing’ process, we recall to mind holy lives and resolve to imitate their example. Icon writing has a long history, particularly within the Orthodox Christian Church. In that tradition, icons are said to be written, not painted. The Orthodox consider making icons more a form of prayer than art, and they believe the iconographer’s hand is guided by God. As they apply paint to board, the process can be seen as a spiritual and prayerful one as paint is carefully applied to board.
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At the recent Blessing of the Icons, presided by Fr Aju Varghese Parish Priest, each icon was introduced by its writer, offering an insight on the person being represented in the icon, and the reason for choosing that particular subject. Many of the icons are gifted to people for whom they were written. It was wonderful to see the delight on the faces of the those who received an icon of their very own to treasure and with which to pray.
Each icon was blessed and anointed with oil from Bethlehem. With the oil, Fr Aju made the sign of the cross on each icon. A blessing was also given to each writer and all those who will venerate the icon and give homage to the person represented.
If you are interested to know more about our Icon Writing Group, please contact with Catherine Hill, St Michael’s Parish Secretary, who will pass on your details to the leaders of the group.
Catherine Hill E: Traralgon@cdsale.org.au P: 03 5174 2060
Written by Mike Hansen
St Michael’s Icon Writing Group
