The Icon as Text- Reading Sacred Images

In The Icon as Text-Reading Sacred Images course, students discover that an icon is far more than a picture—it is a theological text, a sacred image, a window into the Kingdom of Heaven, and a living tradition of the Church. Through guided study, students will learn to “read” an icon with attentiveness and reverence, exploring its theological meaning, historical development, and rich symbolic language.

Students will examine traditional forms, colors, gestures, inscriptions, and compositional choices, uncovering how each element communicates doctrine, prayer, and spiritual truth. They also will explore how icons live within the architectural setting of the Orthodox Church: the dome that proclaims Christ Pantokrator, the apse that reveals the Theotokos as the living temple, the iconostasis that orders the heavenly hierarchy, and the walls that surround the faithful with the communion of saints. By studying how sacred images and sacred space work together, students will begin to see the church building itself as a vast icon, one that shapes the worshipper’s imagination and draws the heart toward God.

Along the way, they will encounter the lives of saints, the rhythm of the liturgical year, and the continuity of Orthodox tradition across centuries. They will come to understand how iconography and architecture together express the Church’s vision of creation, redemption, and the transfigured world to come. In addition, they will have the opportunity to learn from an iconography master and sketch their own icon in real time during class in the fourth quarter.

By the end of the course, students not only will recognize the beauty and purpose of sacred images but also gain the confidence to interpret icons as the Church has always intended, through the lens of faith, history, and holy symbolism. Ultimately, these sacred images and sacred spaces bring the faithful closer to Christ, and closer to theosis.

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.