EIKONS AND THEIR HISTORY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 15

EIKONS AND THEIR HISTORY

Tn Russia, to many of the regiments ordered to the Far Bast for active service have been presented on the eve of departure, by the highest officials of the Czar’s Government, eikons. or holy picturns peculiar to the Eastern Church (says a writer > in the "Queon."). Bach regiment carries the edkon with it to the front, the troops placing confidence in its miraculous powers, and trusting that through possession of it victory may bo vouchsafed to the Russian arms. To General Kuropatkin, on his leaving St. Petersburg, were, presented no less than 80 eikons. The eikon is regarded by members of the Greek Church, which has 06 million Russian adherents, with ■especial reverence and affection, and, ■like the crucifix among other sects of the Christian community, finds a place in the household of the devout. THo word oikon is Greek, and literally designates ah image, that is to say a picture, statue, or relief, though in the Greek Orthodox Church it is now applied more especially to the representation of Christ or a saint painted in colours on a plaque, so as to form a picture some few inches in height; an eikon may consist of one picture only, or three may be hinged together by frames, one in the Centre, and one on either aide. Thb history of the eikon. or holy picture, is of great interest, and forms a most important chapter in the history of the development of the Eastern Church At a very early date mention is made of the use of images as aids to Christian worship.' The historian Ireuaoas speaks of the disciples of Marcellina as possessing images, which they were in the habit of crowning and placing beside the statues of the philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato, etc. A life portrait of Christ was supposed by this sect to have been executed by Pontius Pilate. It is (not, however, until the year BOS, a.d. that definite mention is made of Holy pictures. In that year the Synod of Elvira decreed that pictures should not be placed in churches, "lest that Wmoh is worshipped and adored bo placed upon walls." It is supposed that this decree referred particularly to frescoes, which, in times of religious persecutions, it wouiu be impossible to remove and ■hide away from profanation. At the commencement of the eighth century a serious crisis occurred in the Eastern Church. In the year 736, Loo, the Isaurian. Emperor of the East, endeavoured to free the Church from the idolatry of image worship. In consequence a controversy ensued as to the employment of the word “idolatry," to offer a "relative worship" to tho likeness of Christ. Among those who supported the relative worship of eikons Were John of Damascus and Pope Gregory. Tho latter pointed ont that the pictures themselves should not- be worshipped, but wore of value in that they served to teaoh by pictorial language that which should be worshipped. Moreover ho maintained that that which the educated were able to learn by reading, the ignorant could learn by looking at pictures. Leo issued a decree ordering the ro.moval of eikons from ohurohes and tho dismissal of bishops who favoured their presence. The successor of Loo, Constantine Copronymns. ordered tho disuse of eikons in both ohurohes .and private houses, and compelled the people to give an oath tot this effect. However, in the year 786, during the regency of Irene, the worship of eikons was re-established, and they were ordered to be honoured with "aspaamos," though not with "la. treia," that is to sny, worship which is due to divino nature alone. Since this struggle, which extended over a period of 61 years, the worship of eikons in the Greek Church has suffered only one interruption, which occurred in the year 815, during tho reign of Leo the Armenian. However, a little later, under the regent Empress Theodora, the abolished eakons were onoe more permitted by a Synod at Constantinople. The day of their re-establishmaut has ever since been celebrated throughout the Green; Church on tho first Sunday in Lent tho festival having received tha Greek name Heorto. It is a curious faot that tho holy pioturos of tho present day are still for tha most part exceedingly lacking in artistic merit, tho style adhered to being of a rude archaic type, presenting the stiff angular, storing figures of Mosaic work! a style which artiste of tho Italian school overcame in the fourteenth century and of which Margaribone d’Arezzio was among tho last exponents. The colours omployeu are usually brilliant, the eikon, ot first glance, presenting the appearance of a fourteenth century illunation. Painters of eikons are not permitted to represent nude or sparsely-draped figures, while it is ordained that portraits shall be only half-length, ut omnis stnltoß oogitationis ocoasio tollatttr. This .tetter regulation, however, is not always . s’Wody adhered to. Paintings of the flod-head, or Trinity, are entirely foriidden.