Favorite icon/image

[spl_cadet]

For the Catholic and Orthodox here, what's your favorite icon/image?

Mine is that of Christ, King of Kings:
http://image04.webshots.com/4/4/64/1...1mPhIuB_ph.jpg

[spiritmech]

403 Forbidden.

[George Murphy]

For the Catholic and Orthodox here, what's your favorite icon/image?

Mine is that of Christ, King of Kings:
http://image04.webshots.com/4/4/64/1...1mPhIuB_ph.jpg

I'm not Catholic or Orthodox (capital C or O!) & don't know that this is my "favorite" but it's so striking that I'll mention it. At Trinity Seminary in Columbus there's what looks at a distance like a modern though traditionally styled icon of the Mother of God holding the Christ child. It's only when you get up close that you see that on her cloak is a yellow Star of David with the word, in Gothic type, "Jude," - and barbed wire in the background.

Shalom,
George

[spl_cadet]

Hmm, worked for me. Oh well, here's an uploaded version of it.

[markporter]

it works if you reload the page after you've clicked the link - I think it just doesn't like being linked from TWeb

[furay]

For the Catholic and Orthodox here, what's your favorite icon/image?

God bless you for starting this topic. I could post a million icons, but I don't have much time so I'll stick to a couple for now.

a) The Ladder of Divine Ascent -I'm one of the ones falling off.
b) The Good Shepherd - O, Christ God seek me out for I have wandered astray...

[Piebald]

Can someone explain what the ladder of divine ascent means? It is a very fascinating image.

[spl_cadet]

Just a guess but I would wager that it refers to our journey to Heaven. It's similar to the idea of the stairway to Heaven (a long and ardous task), but also gives a better idea of how one can, through sin, fall from grace and begin at the beginning again, if one begins again at all.

[Piebald]

That's what I guessed too. That is an awesome image

[George Murphy]

Just a guess but I would wager that it refers to our journey to Heaven. It's similar to the idea of the stairway to Heaven (a long and ardous task), but also gives a better idea of how one can, through sin, fall from grace and begin at the beginning again, if one begins again at all.

I.e., it's a good image of working your way to heaven - an interesting picture but lousy theology.

Shalom,
George

[Rdr. Arsenios]

For the Catholic and Orthodox here, what's your favorite icon/image?

From the hand of Luke the Evangelist, this icon of the Theotokos is my favorite.



Arsenios

[Rdr. Arsenios]

I.e., it's a good image of working your way to heaven - an interesting picture but lousy theology.

You need to be careful with this one, George... When you kiss it, remember that it has many depictions of demons, and if you are careless, you will kiss one of them... And no, your lips won't fall off - Yet even so, kissing a demon is not a recognized recommendation of the Church!

This icon depicts the actions of demons in their efforts to keep us from ascending to God, as they work tirelessly to divert our souls from the commandments of Christ [especially the Beattitudes] and thereby keep us from God.

And yes, it affirms that some are more righteous than others... And that all in this life are vulnerable, even those at or near the top. The prayer of a righteous man avails much, yes?

Arsenios

[spl_cadet]

I.e., it's a good image of working your way to heaven - an interesting picture but lousy theology.

Catholics and Orthodox believe that salvation requires to cooperate with God in the salvation process. After all, we are to become perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect, and that isn't a matter of just sitting around letting God work on us.

[Rusty T]

It's hard to narrow down my favorites, but I'll post a couple from my hard drive.

[markporter]

would you be insulted if I said that in the second one he looks like he's made of plastic?