The decoration of the Orthodox churches is wonderful. Everyone who crosses their threshold experiences thrill and excitement. Faces of saints on icons, candles and prayer whispers immerse us in the mystery of communion with God.
Icon veneration is an important part of the Orthodox faith. The image of the saints is a window into the divine world.
Value icon
Through the icon with the help of prayer, believers turn to Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, saints or angels. The icon is a proof of their visible image, so they pray not for the icon, but for the one whose face is present on it.
The first icon was not made by hands, and the Savior himself gave it to people. On the towel with which he wiped his face, his image appeared. The sick king Avgar prayed before this image and was miraculously healed.
The icons express the essence of Orthodoxy and bear the good news of Christ, testify to the true existence of God and are a guide to it.
How to choose a patron saint
In the traditions of Orthodoxy, to name a child in the name of the saint who was honored on his birthday. Therefore, he was considered an intercessor after baptism.
If the ceremony is performed at an older age, then the patron is chosen in accordance with his name or with that which will be given at baptism. There may be several holy comrades. Therefore, from the list choose the one whose memorial day is closest to the date of birth. They look ahead on the calendar, that is, after the birthday.
This day is considered a name day, and the chosen saint will be an intercessor, assistant and spiritual mentor. However, the church does not prohibit choosing a saint who is spiritually close, for example by profession.
The icon with the image of the patron, on whose day the name day is celebrated, is called the nominal. It is customary for every Orthodox to have it.
About dimensional icons
The measured icon refers to personalized images. It is written directly for the newborn. This name was given, because the size of the board for the icon should correspond to the growth of the baby and the width of his shoulders on the eighth day from birth, when it is customary to give a name.
Basically, the icon has a full-length patron image. But sometimes instead of him there may be the Savior or the Virgin, and on the sides - a guardian angel and intercessors especially revered in the family. The dimensional icon should be located near the cradle of the baby or just in his room.
Can I give an icon
The icon can be presented as a gift. But it must be understood that the creed is not a guarantee of the protection and grace of God, moreover it cannot be a talisman, a talisman or a beautiful piece of furniture.
If parents, immediate relatives or godparents want to make their child faith, it is better to do this from a very young age. In this case, the dimensional icon for the baby will be a valuable offering and, along with the pectoral cross, will become a person’s personal shrine.
It is believed that a dimensional icon can be presented to an adult. Such a gift will be remembered and dear, and daily prayer to the patron saint will become especially blessed.
Special meaning
The measured icon is unique, as well as the person who was born. It is believed that it contributes to the establishment of a special spiritual connection with its patron. You should not put a special mystical meaning in the exact fit of the sizes. It is just a reminder to a person of how small he was when he was born.
The Orthodox turns to the image on the icon for blessing or advice, and the intercessor asks for it before God. And if the faith of a praying Christian is deep and true, he will certainly receive support.
Therefore, it is necessary to realize that the icon itself does not help, it invites to prayer, serves as a reminder of God and a guide to the believer.
History of the dimensional icon
The history of the emergence of dimensional icons, or, as they were called, "birthmarks", is attributed to the reign of Ivan the Terrible. It was he who ordered the spelling of the first such icon after the birth of his son. For centuries, the tradition was the prerogative of the royal family only.
Eight dimensional icons have been preserved in the museums of the Kremlin: three are attributed to the Rurikovich family, and five to the Romanovs.
In the era of Peter I, tradition began to fade in connection with the introduction to the Western style of life. Certain cases of writing dimensional icons began to arise in non-royal families. The nobles and nobles, in this way, imitated the old Russian custom.
The revival of interest in this type of icon painting takes place in the 19th - early 20th centuries, but is interrupted by the revolution.
The measured icon for the baby is experiencing the third wave of rebirth today. Now this tradition has become widespread.
Manufacturing technology
Relatives of the child actually take part in creating the icon. The first step is to determine what will be depicted on it, that is, the plot: there will be one saint by name and date of birth, or, for example, the Virgin in the center, and in the fields - especially venerated intercessors.
At the next stage, icon painters begin directly to create an image in traditional technology. The basis is taken lime, pine, maple or alder board, depending on the region where the workshop is located.
To ensure that the board does not warp, strengthen its back side: apply a shallow mesh of cuts across the fibers and fill it with thin planks of another, harder type of wood, that is, veneer.
Then the board is glued with a special glue based on fish or animal glue, and then a pavolok is applied. This is a layer of fabric, necessary to smooth out the roughness of the base.
The primer, or, as it is called, gesso, is the next stage of work, it is made on the basis of fish glue and chalk. Apply layer by layer, each carefully dried and polished.
The third layer is the painting itself. First, the outline of the figure is indicated . A layer of paint is then applied. It is cooked on yolks and has increased strength, called egg tempera.
The finished drawing is covered with linseed oil from above, so that it remains intact for many years.
Where to get the icon
The manufacture of dimensional icons is the sphere of activity of icon-painting workshops, which are often under the patronage of a temple or monastery. They are custom made.
On average, the period through which the work will be ready is about a month.
Such an icon cannot be cheap, therefore, so that there is no doubt where to place an order, it is necessary to take into account the price and, of course, customer reviews about the finished work that this or that workshop will perform.
The measured icon is made in a style that depends on the school of artists.
There are many of them, they can differ geographically, for example: Novgorod, Moscow, Pskov, Kostroma.
Icons of schools of different founders also differ in stylistics. They were famous icon painters: Feofan Grek or Andrei Rublev.
Order dimensional icon in Moscow
Measured icon in Moscow can be made in one of the many workshops. Their works not only earned grateful customer reviews, but were also marked and consecrated by the Orthodox Church. The most famous and popular, which, no doubt, can be trusted, are the following workshops:
- The "Measured Icon" on Serpukhovskaya Street is one of the branches of a network of workshops. In addition to Moscow, they are open in Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Tula and Kaluga. As part of the new project, they propose to order the writing of unique icons by the artists of Athos, with whom friendships are established. The measured icon executed in the Byzantine style (the photo cannot convey all its beauty) is a masterpiece of icon painting. It is believed that the images from these places have a miraculous effect.
- The icon-painting workshop “In the Name of St. Alipius of the Caves” is located at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”. Respect for traditions and strict observance of canons are distinguished by icon painters.
- The icon painting workshop “Alexandria” has a unique style of writing, which is based on ancient traditions, but at the same time is distinguished by a special realistic image.
- Icon painting workshop of Irina Ilyinskaya. Its founder is an ideological and creative inspirer of a team of artists. One of the areas of activity is the creation of a new iconography, that is, the writing of images of the recently canonized saints.
- The icon-making workshop “Creating Heritage” works in the tradition of the icon-guilds of the city of Vladimir. In addition to writing new images, they are engaged in the restoration of old ones. You can purchase both those and others.
Icons to order in Yekaterinburg
Uniqueness is a feature that distinguishes a dimensional icon. Yekaterinburg, being the cultural center of the Ural region, revives lost traditions, including church art.
There are several workshops in the city in which artists create true masterpieces of icon painting:
- The workshop “Measured Icon” carries out orders related to the writing of dimensional, wedding, nominal, as well as temple icons.
- The “Favor” workshop was organized in 2006. She is engaged not only in the creation of icons, but also in the painting of temples. Adheres to the Moscow and Yaroslavl school of icon painting. The finished work is dedicated to priests of the Holy Cross Monastery for men.
- The Canon Association is a team of architects, icon painters, wood carvers and gilders who decorate temples and create a single artistic ensemble. In their works on biblical subjects, they revive the lost Nevyansk style of iconography.
When addressing God or his saints, thoughts should be free from vain deeds, the image on the icon helps to open your heart and focus on sincere and spiritual communication.
Encourage your children to have a respectful dialogue with your patron. These simple words, perhaps far from proper church prayers, should be filled with respect and reverence for the holy face.