L9291A Iconography: The Art of Seeing

⇒ Back Course Disciplines

This course unit explores the spiritual, liturgical and theological significance of icons and their sacred spaces. It will investigate the relationship between iconography, architecture and the Orthodox Liturgy in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, inviting students to engage with and interpret the symbolic language and theological meaning of icons and sacred space in Orthodox worship today. 

Background
The Christianisation of the private and public space in Late Antiquity was hastened by artistic and architectural developments within the Byzantine empire. Expressed through iconography and other forms of materiality, these developments continued in the Middle Ages and even after the fall of Constantinople. Even today, iconography shapes the worship of Orthodox Christians across the world. This unit is therefore important for students wishing to have a deeper and more holistic understanding of the symbolic language and spiritual significance of Byzantine iconography. 

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relationships between Byzantine iconographic programs, architectural symbolism, and the liturgical uses of architectural spaces
• explain the symbolism of the church building as an image of the cosmos, or as ‘heaven on earth’; 
• critically interpret the symbolic language of icons; 
• enter into constructive dialogue on the Christian use of images and the theology of the Eastern iconographic tradition; 
• appreciate the significance of the icon in liturgical celebration and personal devotion. 

Weekly Topics

1. The origins and emergence of Christian iconography
2. The symbolic language of iconography: Chora monastery
3. The relationship between icons, sacred space and ‘lightscape’
4. The emergence of the Christian church building, Byzantine architecture and iconographic programs
5. Hagia Sophia
6. The sixth-century icon of Christ at St Catherine’s Monastery (Sinai)
7. The theology of the icon: Iconoclasm and the Seventh Ecumenical Council Icons of the Theotokos
8. Icons of the great feasts of our Lord in the liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church The icon of the Holy Trinity (Andrei Rublev)
9. Post-Byzantine iconography
10. The spiritual and theological significance of iconography today.