The Icon FAQ 1. What is an Icon? An Icon is an image (usually
two dimensional) of Christ, the Saints, Angels, important
Biblical events, parables, or events in the history of the
Church. St. Gregory the Dialogist (Pope of Rome ca. 590-604),
spoke of Icons as being Scripture to "For what writing presents
to readers, this a picture presents to the unlearned who behold,
since in it even the ignorant see what they ought to follow; in
it the illiterate read" (Epistle to Bishop Serenus of
Marseilles, NPNF 2, Vol. XIII, p. 53). To those who would
suggest that this is no longer relevant in our enlightened age,
let them consider the rather large functional illiteracy rate we
have, and the fact that even the most literate societies always
have a sizable illiterate segment... their young children. Icons
also lift up our minds from earthly things to the heavenly. St.
John of Damascus wrote, "we are led by perceptible Icons to the
contemplation of the divine and spiritual" (PG 94:1261a). And by
keeping their memory before