Theology & Spirituality of Icons
RGH3755 / 6755H

BRIEF SYLLABUS

On-line resources:
1. Selected images of icons used in course lectures.
2. Table Comparison of Iconophile and Iconoclast doctrines.
3. Information on assignments and researching.

Description: The history of the iconoclastic controversy and ecumenical councils, especially for the development of christology. History of early Christian art and icons. Readings from Nicea II, Theodore the Studite, John of Damascus and Theodore Abã Qurrah. Iconography and spirituality. Byzantine & Ukrainian icons. Writing an icon. Museum/Church visit. Weekly slide-shows. Lectures seminar, reflection papers, major paper. [Cross listed to Theology].

Goals: To situate the debate about icons within a historical context and within the history of Christian images. To critically analyze and reflect upon the theology of icons in historical figures and modern theologians. To gain an appreciation of symbolism and art in the Eastern Christian tradition. To be able to interpret icons and their theology, and to situate iconography within the liturgical tradition of the Eastern churches.

Course Evaluation, Requirements & Due Dates:
a. Reflection paper #1 20%
b. Reflection paper #2 20%
c. Research Essay 40%
d. In-Class tutorial participation 20%

a & b. Reflection papers:
Reflection papers are based on the reading or topic listed below, and should be between 1.5-2 pages. See "essay requirements" below.
i. First paper: Due: Week # 4. Reflection paper on the Lecture/ Tutorial readings of Theodore the Studite.
ii. Second paper: Due: Week # 6. Reflection paper on only one icon of either Christ, Mary or a Saint. Describe everything you see or read in the icon. Assume that you are interpreting the icon for someone who is entirely unfamiliar with Eastern iconography. Please provide a black-and-white photocopy of the icon and its source/location.

c. Research Essay:
The research paper is to be 8-10 pages, and should conform to the "essay requirements" listed below. The essay topic can be either on the theological history and development of iconography, or a theological interpretation of any icon(s) of your choosing. Keep in mind that such an icon(s) should yield enough information for an 8-10 page essay. Please provide a black-and-white photocopy of the icon and its source/location. Due: Week 11.
d. In-class participation in lectures and tutorials:
Lectures will be the first hour of the class, while the tutorials will immediately follow the lecture. Students will be expected to discuss and critique the readings during the lecture and tutorial sessions.

Essay Requirements:
Research Essays must include a title page, an introductory/thesis paragraph, the main body of text (ideas, arguments, critique), endnote or footnotes, a concluding/summary paragraph, and a bibliography. The research essays are composed of synthesis and critical analysis of a theme/idea/event in systematic theology and/or historical theology, and are presented from an objective point of view. The level of discourse for research essays is "systematic theology." All written work is to be typed and double-spaced, and is based in 12 pt. font.
Reflection Papers include the same elements as a research paper, with the addition of some subjective (personal, spiritual and pastoral) reflections, but no title page and bibliography.
For a formatting reference guide, see: Kate L. Turabian. A Manual For Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. Chicago: Chicago, 1973. For a guide to style, grammar and composition in general, see: William Strunk. The Elements of Style. Rev., intro. and a chapter on writing by E.B. White. 2. ed. New York: Macmillan, 1972. Or, Joseph M. Williams. Style: Toward Clarity and Grace. Chicago: Chicago, 1990.

Course Texts:
a. Baggley, John. Festival Icons for the Christian Year. Crestwood: St Vladimir's, 2000.
b. Nouwen, Henry. Behold the Beauty of the Lord. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria, 2000.
d. Selected photocopied materials, and on-line resources.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction & Overview
- course requirements; overview of materials; web-resources; introductory video (23 min.).

2. Historical Background: Christology & Iconoclasm
- the prohibition of images in the Scriptures; the christological context; Dura-Europas.

Icons: Dura-Europas and the catacombs.
Toronto site: Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): Early Byzantine Art.
Site: Early Byzantine art.
Geography: Map of early Byzantium (PDF).

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Baggley, John. Doors of Perception. Chp. 2: 6-20.
Pelikan, Jaroslav. "Graven Images: Ambiguity of the Iconographic Tradition." Imago Dei: The Byzantine Apologia for Icons. Chp. 2: 41-66.
Old Testament readings: Ex. 20.4, 20.23; Deut. 27.15; Numb. 21.4-9; Ex. 25.18; Ezek. 40, 41.

B. For Further Reading:
Sahas, Daniel. Icon and Logos. Introduction. [selections].
Sendler, Egon. "The History of the Icon." The Icon: Image of the Invisible. Chp. 1: 7-36.
Pelikan, Jaroslav. "The True Image." Jesus Through the Centuries. Chp. 7: 83-94.

3. The Triumph of Orthodoxy: The Iconophile Position (I)
John of Damascus (676-749); Theodore Ab Qurrah (755-830); Iconoclastic council of 754; St. Catherine's monastery (Sinai) & St. Sophia's (Constantinople); types of icons of Christ.

Icons: Of Christ.
Icons: St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)
[Some images, icons and commentary].
Site: Hagia Sophia (Constantinople, modern Istanbul)

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Cormack, Robin. "In the Shadow of St. Sophia: Byzantine Art in the Sixth Century and Its Aftermath 527-680." Byzantine Art. Chp. 2: 37-73.
John of Damascus. On the Divine Images. (Selections: 13-28, 80-90).
Nouwen, Henry. Behold the Beauty of the Lord. Intro. & Chp. 1 (On Christ).

B. For Further Reading:
Baggley. Doors of Perception. Chp. 3.
Ouspensky/Lossky. The Meaning of Icons. Icons of Christ: 69-75.

4. The Triumph of Orthodoxy: The Iconophile Position (II)
- the Council of Nicea II (787) and the Sunday of Orthodoxy; Theodore The Studite (759-826); types of icons of Theotokos-Mary.

Icons: Of the Theotokos - Mary.
Site: Byzantine Images in Ravenna.

Due: Reflection paper #1.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Sahas. Icons and Logos. (Selections on Nicea II: Intro: 36-44. Texts: 92-97, 154-157, 176-180).
Theodore the Studite. On the Holy Icons. (Selections: 19-41).
Nouwen. Behold the Beauty of the Lord. Chp. 2 (on Mary).

For Further Reading:
Ouspensky/Lossky. The Meaning of Icons. Icons of Mary: 76-104.

5. Spirituality of Icon Writers & Icons In Worship
- prayer: before writing an icon, and for the consecration of icons; beginning to read & write icons.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Baggley, John. Festival Icons for the Christian Year. Chp. 1 (Introduction).
Cavarnos, Constantine. "The Function of Icons." Orthodox Iconography. Chp. 3: 30-48.
Limouris, Gennadios, ed. "A Prayer Recited Before Painting an Icon." Icons: Windows on Eternity. 159.
"Prayer for the Blessing of Icons."
Quenot, Michel. "Preparation & Materials, etc." The Icon. 83-90. (Section on colours is optional reading: 111-119).

Video excerpts: How to Write an Icon. (Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies). (1 selections).

For Further Reading:
Quenot. Chp. 4: "The Theological Elements of An Icon." The Icon.

6. Iconography in Kyivan-Rus'
- Ukrainian and Russian Icons (11th - 15th centuries); St. Sophia's (Kyiv); Rublev's Trinity.

Icons: Rublev's Trinity.
Icons: Rublev's Trinity (lines and perspectives).
Site: Ukrainian icons (see the section on c.11-15th centuries).

Due: Reflection paper #2.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Zibawi, Mahmoud. "From Rus' to Russia." The Icon. Chp. 8: 125-144.
Baggley. Festival Icons. Chp. 4 & 5 (Nativity & Presentation).
Nouwen. Behold the Beauty of the Lord. Chp. 1 (Rublev's Trinity).

B. For Further Reading:
Evdokimov. "Andrei Rublev's Icon of the Holy Trinity." The Art of the Icon. Chp. 24: 243-257.
Baggley. Doors of Perception. Nativity icon: pp.122ff.

7. Evolution of Architecture, Iconostases and Festival Icons
- ancient, medieval and modern icon-screens; initial stages of writing an icon.

Icons: Iconostasis (icon-screen) & Saints.
Site: Icons of the Liturgical year.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Evdokimov, Paul. "The Church Building." The Art of the Icon. Chp. 12: 143-161.
Baggley. Festival Icons. Chp. 2, 3 & 16 (On Mary).

Video excerpts: How to Write an Icon (2 selections).

B. For Further Reading:
Quenot. The Icon. [Iconostasis and Festal icons]. Chp. 1: 47-64 only.
Ouspensky/Lossky. The Meaning of Icons. Icons of Iconostasis & Saints: 105-141 & 141-216.

8. Festival Icons of Christ & Development of Colours and Perspectives in Iconography
- laws of colour and inverse-perspective; stages of writing an icon.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Baggley. Festival Icons. Chp. 6 & 7 (Theophany & Transfiguration).
Sendler, Egon. "Geometric Structures"; "Proportions of the Human Body" & "The Icon and Laws of Perspective." The Icon. Chp. 6, 7 & 8: 87-134.

Video excerpts: How to Write an Icon (3 selections).

B. For Further Reading:
Sendler. Chp. 10: "The World of Colours." & Chp. 12: "Technical Preparation." The Icon.

9. Festival Icons, Non-Byzantine/Slavic Icons & Popular Icons
- Video excerpts: painting and layers.

Icons: Coptic Icons.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Baggley. Festival Icons. Chp. 8 & 9 (Pre-Pascha Icons).
Gregorios, Paulos Mar. "Iconography in Non-European Christianity." Icons: Windows on Eternity. 180-187.

Video excerpts: How to Write an Icon (4 & 5 selections).

B. For Further Reading:
Limouris, Gennadios, ed. Icons: Windows on Eternity. [Coptic, Armenian, Moldavian icons]. 170-179.

10. Icons of the Pascha & Completing an Icon
- Video excerpts: final touches on icons.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Baggley. Festival Icons. Chp. 10, 11 & 12 (Holy Week icons).

Video excerpts: How to Write an Icon (6 selections).

B. For Further Reading:
Sendler. Chp. 13: "Painting the Icon." The Icon.

11. Liturgy & Icons: A Modern Ukrainian Church
- icons in the liturgical and architectural setting; preparation for church visit.

A. Lecture & Tutorial Readings:
Baggley. Festival Icons. Chp. 13-16 (Ascension & Pentecost icons).
Nouwen. Behold the Beauty of the Lord. Chp. 4 (Pentecost).
Melone, M.E. "In the Work of Human Hands." He Dwells in Our Midst. 29-38.

Video excerpts: The Iconography of Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church (Chicago) [40min.].

B. For Further Reading:
Evdokimov. "The Church Building." The Art of the Icon. Chp. 12: 143-161.
Ouspensky. "Symbolism of the Church." The Orthodox Ethos. 153-168.

12. Conclusion: Aesthetics, Architecture and Worship
- Visit to a church to experience iconography in its liturgical and architectural setting; OR a museum vist.
- The date and place will be announced in class. Note: The date may be moved to an earlier date in the course schedule.