I am very thankful to have a priest who is a monk and who is a master iconographer. Because of this I have been exposed to icons that are really icons, not pictures that are presented as icons. With my family, I have the opportunity to worship in a place that is filled with living icons. I've even had the opportunity to put my hand and heart to the task of icon writing. In the last couple of days I've had the opportunity to view in incredible collection in Houston at the Menil Collection. Not all of the icons in their collection are necessarily breath taking, but most all of them have something to say to anyone who would take the time to listen to them. There were some that seemed as if they were ready to raise up and speak. These icons will never leave my consciousness, and they will never cease to speak.
This kind of "talk" might be confusing or disturbing to some. But, this is part of the world of Orthodoxy. Man was made in the Icon of God. The Word became flesh. Because the Word became flesh He can be portrayed in the icon. Those who share His Essence can be portrayed in the icon. The icons, such as some of the ones that I saw today, can speak to us, and can encourage us to polish up and clean off the Image of God within us all.
