I came across my Master’s thesis today online. It’s available as a PDF through Aristotle University’s library. If you can read Modern Greek, you can read the thesis HERE. If not, you can look over the bibliography if you’re interested in finding works in English that deal with such themes.
Here is the Abstract of my thesis:
The Stoglav council is an extrapolation of the Orthodox position on iconography as expressed by the Fathers of the Church and the Holy Councils. This paper will demonstrate, through adequate citations of learned scholars, that the theological presuppositions of the iconographer have their basis not merely in a local council of the Russian Church, but in the Tradition and consciousness of the universal Orthodox Church. The importance of clarity on issues of icons and iconographers pertain to the whole of Orthodoxy because the whole Church witnesses to the faith and life in Christ through this sacred art form. For this reason a systematic study of iconography as theology in colour and of the necessary presuppositions of the iconographer is indispensable to the Orthodox Church at large. To begin with we will touch on the following five primary presuppositions of the iconographer:
1. An iconographer must be an Orthodox Christian;
2. He must live a pious life according to the canons of the Church;
3. Use of the imagination is forbidden;
4. Portraying God by one’s self-understanding is forbidden;
5. The iconographer must follow Tradition and the ancient models of icons.
Afterward, we will address the following three secondary presuppositions:
1. The iconographer must possess the necessary artistic talent to paint holy icons;
2. He must accept and diligently instruct students in the appropriate technique and lifestyle befitting an iconographer;
3. He must repair old and damaged icons.
Taking for granted that the icon is theology in color, a foundation is therefore constructed for the iconographer’s title “theologian of color.” We explained the presuppositions that lead an iconographer to be the best painter of holy personages he can be. But what we have not drawn out is the distinction between an iconographer who maintains all the presuppositions, and one who not only holds the necessary prerequisites, but also paints according to his own authentic experience of God. This is established in the epilogue. This thesis establishes a manual for becoming an iconographer – that is someone who records (in line and color) the spiritual experience of someone else. It ends encouraging the iconographer to attain personal communication with God and in turn express this authentic experience in his icons.
Please say a pray for me, that God will enlighten me to do something with my thesis in the English language. For years I’ve been saying I want to revisit it with an eye to possibly seeking publication but other projects always seem to get in the way.
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