In Orthodoxy and Catholicism, icons are called images of saints and their deeds. Since both of these religious trends originate from early Christian churches, the icons of saints and their significance also came from the depths of centuries. This is not just an image of a saint or his feat in the name of faith, it is a symbol that should help a person to understand the spiritual depth, find support in it.
In the Catholic faith, the images of saints and martyrs became more artistic over time, they left symbolism, they became more expression of feelings and emotions. The saints were portrayed as ordinary people who were able to find their way to faith, remained faithful to it to the end.
Orthodox icons and their meaning remained the same. They preserved the ancient traditions of symbolism. Every little thing has its own meaning, even folds on clothes. They never depict torment or suffering on their faces, only spiritualized joy as a reward for perseverance and patience: the main virtues in the Orthodox faith. Color, gestures and objects also matter. For example, a hand pressed to the chest means empathy and empathy. If the hand is raised up, then it calls for repentance. Both hands raised up are a request for help and heavenly intercession.
The icons of the saints and their meaning are different not only in the symbolism of the things and gestures depicted, but also in the practical help that the image of a martyr, saint or blessed can provide. Each icon helps in a particular case. For example, the icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are probably the most popular in Russia. He is considered the patron saint of sailors, travelers, merchants and children. You can contact him if there is a serious life problem. And recently, the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has become mandatory for every second driver, even if he is not very religious.
There are ancient icons of saints, and their meaning is that they are “prayed” for centuries, hundreds of thousands of people. This is illustrated by the icon of the Kazan Mother of God - the patroness of our capital and all of Russia. With this image, the Russian army attacked on the Borodino field. They say that in 1941, when German troops came close to Moscow, Stalin allowed a religious procession around the capital in a miraculous way.
There are modern icons of saints, and their importance from the fact that they belong to a new era has not diminished. This primarily concerns the image of Matrona.
Moscow. She was reckoned a
saint in 1999. But she was revered during her lifetime. Matrona was born at the end of the 19th century in the village of Sebino, in the twenties she moved to Moscow and helped all those in need here, despite the fact that she herself was blind from birth and later could not walk due to foot illness. She had the gift of healing and foresight. The blessed woman died in 1952 and bequeathed that people come to her grave, talk about their sorrows, and she will help them. And so it happened, the image of the Matrona of Moscow began to be considered miraculous. Both seriously ill patients and people who have serious life problems turn to her for help.