Topic: Theology of Icons

[ignatios]

What is the Oriental Orthodox belief about icons?  Is it pretty much the same as that of the 7th Ecumenical Council?  What are the reasons for the stylistic features of Oriental Icons? 

Are there any theological differences between the EO and OO that are evident in their different icons?

Sorry if these questions seem redundant, or yet another person asking the same old questions you've heard before.  I tried searching for this topic, but couldn't find anything.  Old threads are welcome!

Thanks!

[Salpy]

http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,5475.0.html

This thread should give you some information on that subject.

[ignatios]

That thread helped with the background, thank you!

However, I should have worded my question better.  I guess my question is this:  Are there any Oriental Orthodox theological or spiritual distinctives that show up in the icons of the respective churches?  I mean beliefs that may not be represented in Eastern Orthodox icons?  What is the significance of the aesthetic features of Oriental iconography, for instance, in the Armenian type and the Coptic type?  Is this getting too nitpicky?

[Salpy]

I think different styles just developed in different areas.  I don't think there is any theological reason behind any differences in style.  I terms of our beliefs about icons, they are pretty much the same.

You see this a little bit even in the EO tradition.  I've noticed that there are some differences between Greek and Russian iconography, but I don't think the differences are due to any theological disagreements.

[Brigidsboy]

A new Armenian church is being buily in Florida. It has the best iconography I have yet seen in an Armenian church.
Their website may be found here:www.sthagoparmenianchurch.org

Have a look at their photo album. It appears they have a beautiful and full liturgical life as well as an impressive building.

[ignatios]

Thanks guys!  It's good to have this cleared up.  Interesting how the OO and EO icons are so similar, contrary to the modern western icons of the Roman Catholics and Protestants.