Icons of the Father?

[The Conductor]

I saw online what appears to be an icon of God the Father. I understand the Orthodox argument for making icons of Christ, but is it possible to justify making an icon of the Father? Would that be common in Orthodoxy?

 

[buzuxi02]

No. God the Father icons, especially popular in Russia are not canonical. They originate from the 15th century a byproduct of renaissance art.

 

[AV1]

If you have an icon of Christ or the Holy Spirit...then you have the father too...no?

 

[rusmeister]

What they said.
Non-canonical. Not Orthodox.

 

[jckstraw72]

there is considerable debate on this. the issue depends on Who Daniel saw as the Ancient of Days in his vision in Daniel 7. I've seen seemingly good arguments both ways - that it was the Logos, or that it was the Father. I recently saw a good argument from Fr. John Whiteford that it was the Father -- I'll see if I can find it.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Iconographers normally represent the father with a beam of light. The "old man" type are heretical because the Father never became human. The only icon that comes to mind where the Father and the Spirit are portrayed other than light and a dove is the Old Testament Trinity icon where the three angels are with Abraham. And in this special case, Scripture says that there were three angels.

 

[jckstraw72]

The Ancient of Days Icon: Patristic, Liturgical, and Historical Evidence

 

[Kristos]

I saw online what appears to be an icon of God the Father. I understand the Orthodox argument for making icons of Christ, but is it possible to justify making an icon of the Father? Would that be common in Orthodoxy?

No, there is no icon of the Father or the Holy Spirit. Icons depicting specific events or visions recorded in scripture may represent the event as traditionally interpreted. In a few cases there might some variation here (is the Ancient of Days the Father or the Son, as already mentioned), but in general event icons maintain a base uniformity aligned with Tradition. Theophany is a classic event icon that represents the Holy Spirit like a dove as recorded in scripture, but that representation cannot be decontextualized into an icon of the Holy Spirit that is a dove.

 

[ArmyMatt]

it's a general no no, but you do see it from time to time, especially as the Ancient of Days. I would point out that God the Father is on the Kursk Root Icon, so there are some holy icons that have Him on them.

but I would say they are rare if you find them

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Morning Jack, Interesting article! I also found this book published by SVS on Iconography portraying the Father. Fortunately, Google Books has the whole thing online.

The Image of God the Father in Orthodox Theology and Iconography and Other ... - Steven Bigham - Google Books

 

[buzuxi02]

The thing is there is no icon of God the Father which is meant to be a depiction of Daniels vision. Daniel 7 in icons is usually the river of fire icon with Christ being depicted. The icons which have depictions of God the Father at the monastery of St Katherine at Sinai date to the 17th century. On the other hand they also house the oldest icon of the Ancient of Days known to exist from the 6-7 th century and the incription reads: 'Immanuel'

Ironically the article Jack posted has a trinity icon which depicts Christ incarnate and Christ as ancient of days.ie