THE EASTERN AND WESTERN SPIRITUALITY OF THE SACRED ARTS

Here are the examples of Eastern and Western iconography. The one on the top is the marble statue of Mary from Lancaster Cathedral while the two below show an Eastern icon [left] and Western madonna painting [right]. Each is a masterpiece artistic representation of the Virgin of Nazareth.

passionately_papist said...

tungkol naman po sa sacred images...

diba po panahon pa ni Constantine e may mga rebulto na? kung ganon bakit po yung mga easterns ngayon (catholic or orthodox) e puro flat 2d images lang? before the schism po ba restricted to 2d images lang ang mga easterns?

April 30, 2010 4:07 PM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

Honestly, I don't know the deeper explanation why the Easterners prefer the 2d icons and mosaics rather than the statues we have. I am not an iconographer, a historian of art and expert on Eastern Spirituality. I will only share my little knowledge of the difference between the two.

The Bible speaks of wall images in the Temple and also of statues of cherubims, lions, oxens, etc. Thus, we are sure that the use of statues in the house of worships, on altars and sanctuaries are Biblically founded. You can find them in the SACRED ART label of this blog.

I think the primary answer is cultural reason which became a distinctive source of Eastern and Western spirituality. Because according to Apostolic Tradition St. Luke was a doctor and a painter. He used to do icons. Then the monks and early Christians in the East and in Rome imitated him. The Easterners fell in love with iconography culturally since then they preferred that Sacred Art. They developed a theology that Icons are not mere representations but they give the Sacramental presence of what they convey.

Those in the West however are more practical in their approach. Icons are mere representations of the person or things tha they convey so any form of art are equal in this regard. Since statues are more realistic then the Westerners have given them more attention. For us the clearer the image the better the representation. That is why our paintings are more realistic and colorful.

The Eastern icons prefer only natural colors and only distinct lines. They have special meaning for that. THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THE MYSTERY OF THE LORD AND THE HEAVENLY THINGS by not conveying them realistically in profaned colors of this world. The West counters that we prefer the use of all colors available on earth and be realistic as possible because we must use the God-given talents and the materials of these world to better understand the things of God and heavenly realities.

BUT, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS CONTENTION BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND THE WESTERN CHURCH. Both position is good and have valuable points for our Christian spirituality.

April 30, 2010 4:53 PM