Posted by George Patsourakos
on 11/1/2009, 8:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Orthodox Christians View Icons as “Windows to Heaven”"
Al, in response to your question of "rules and regulations" that the painter of an icon must abide by -- this description of an icon painter was given to me by a Greek Orthodox priest. These rules and regulations include requiring halos on icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints and angels; gold color must represent heaven and eternity; red, divine life; blue, purity; and white, only for the Resurrection and Transfiguration of Christ. Other rules exist.
As for your second question regarding an incongrapher not changing the shape of Christ's face, the fact that St. Luke was the first person to paint Christ's face on an icon indicates that all later iconographers -- right up to the present day -- must paint Christ's face similar to the way it was first painted. Iconographers do have some leeway in painting Jesus' face, but to a very limited degree. Iconographers are not allowed to be creative and paint what they think Christ may have looked like, since doing so would not be a true portrayal of Christ, based on St. Luke's first icon of Christ.
I hope that I have satisfactorily answered your questions, Al.
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