Visible Image of the Invisible God: A Guide to Russian and Byzantine Icons - Softcover

Sardella, Dennis J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1640607293 ISBN 13: 9781640607293

Publisher: Paraclete Press, 2022

Synopsis

A comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide to Russian icons 
 
Religious icons have been at the spiritual heart of the Christian East for nearly two thousand years. Their mysterious, peaceful quality and almost magnetic power can stop us in our tracks and draw our gaze, without us even knowing why. The sophisticated composition and symbolism of icons emphasize that their subjects are inhabitants of another, transcendent, world.

Icons are not simply the art of the Christian East, but the expression and pulse of its spirituality. And on a personal level for many Christians of all backgrounds, icons are not only objects of admiration, but a deep wellspring of meditation, reflection, and veneration. 
 
Dennis J. Sardella, a docent at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts, now offers an inviting guide to the most famous icons in the collection.
This vibrantly illustrated book will:  

• Introduce you to icons and instill a desire for a deeper appreciation of them 
• Teach you about their origin, their historical evolution, their complex symbolic language, and their role in the spiritual and liturgical life of the Eastern Churches, both Orthodox and Catholic 
• Answer your questions about when and where the first icons were created 
• Show the physical and spiritual steps in their creation 
• Explain the different types of icons, the symbolism that is key to deciphering them, as well as their role in Eastern Christian spirituality and liturgy. 

Visible Image of the Invisible God is a treasured resource for those who are knowledgeable about Russian icons and Byzantine icons, as well as newcomers. 

About this title

About the Author

Dennis Sardella writes and speaks on Russian and Byzantine icons and their role in Eastern Christian spirituality, as well as on prayer and the Christian life. He has served as a Docent at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts since 2012, where he leads gallery tours and introduces visitors to the world of Russian icons. He also writes and speaks regularly to area groups on the topics of religious icons and the role they play in Eastern Christian spirituality.

Edition details

• Publisher: Paraclete Press
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1640607293
• ISBN 13: 9781640607293
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192