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Religious icons: a thousand-year-old tradition

Sacred icons are works of art of great value and importance for the Christian religion.

In ancient times these were paintings handmade by expert craftsmen, following ancient techniques handed down from generation to generation.

Each icon has its own symbolism, representing sacred figures such as Jesus, the Saints, the Virgin Mary and God or important events in Christian history and symbols of faith.

It is also possible to divide them into different categories, such as Greca icons and Orthodox icons.

What are the differences between Greca icons and Orthodox icons?

There are some differences between Greca and Orthodox icons: Greca icons  are generally more realistic than Orthodox ones, and are often painted on wooden boards rather than materials such as textiles and metals.

It is important to note that Orthodox icons may vary slightly in style and distinctive features from Greca ones, depending on the different traditions present within the Orthodox Church. For example, there may be differences in the use of color, perspective, or specific iconography of the commemorated saints.

With which materials can they be made?

The icons can be made with different materials, depending on the tradition and artistic culture of each region. The most common ones are wood, gold, silver and tempera.

  • Wood  is the most used material for the base of the icon, as it is easy to work with and resistant over time.
  • Gold is often used to create the backgrounds of icons, as it represents divine light and eternity.
  • Silver is used to create the more detailed parts of the icon, such as the faces and hands of saints.
  • Tempera is used to create the bright and vibrant colors of the icons.