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In the modern-day Orthodox Church, by far the majority of icons in both private homes and Churches are mounted icons, printed images affixed to wood. Despite the ever-increasing number of talented iconographers we have in the Orthodox Church today, many people simply cannot afford to buy hand-painted icons, especially when the prices are compared to printed versions of the same image. Where does this leave the hand-painted icons made in centuries past, which are usually even more expensive than new hand-painted icons?

The reality is that many Antique Icons on the market today are bought by collectors: collectors who have a deep appreciation for such icons and often own many beautiful Antique Icons. Such collectors devote many, many years to learning about the various aspects of Antique Icons (school of painting, age, provenance, etc) and come to a point where they can easily determine the approximate age of an icon, the icon “school”, etc by simply glancing at an image. Collectors are also acutely aware that Antique Icons steadily increase in value over time… a collection that cost several thousands of dollars to build may now be worth millions of dollars, particularly with the increases in interest in Antique Icons observed over the past 20 years.

By contrast, within the Orthodox Church, such icons are seldom discussed except by experts and iconographers. Antique icons are commonly venerated by the faithful in Churches who then move on to the many other icons that may be present within the Church without thinking much about the history of the holy image that was just venerated (unless it happens to be a wonderworking “Antique Icon”, such as the “Kursk Root” icon of the Mother of God). Many of the faithful do not know the basics of style and “school” as relate to antique icons, oftentimes preferring “custom” hand-painted icons to antique icons.

The question thus arises: Why should antique icons have a significant role in the modern-day Orthodox Church?

Without question, the role of antique icons is related to the fact that they, like Orthodox Christianity itself, have seen many ages of human history come and go. Some of the most ancient icons existing to the modern day were painted in the first centuries of Christianity, such as the primitive paintings found in the Catacombs around Rome and many icons cherished at St. Catherine’s monastery on Mt. Sinai. Regardless of whether a given icon is 1500 years old or 150 years old, antique icons have almost all been prayed in front of for generations: prayed in front of by mother’s whose children were fighting in wars (such as the “Patriotic War of 1812″ in Russia), prayed in front of by countless priests for their flocks. Antique icons are infused with prayer and the tragedy of the situation is that many such icons sit on the shelves of antique stores, perhaps right next to antique cigarette cases or busts of “Lenin”, collecting dust and being ignored.

When such icons are sold to collectors, they are being sold to individuals who appreciate their antiquity and will treat them with respect. Most such collectors are believers who are inspired by such icons to turn their thoughts heavenward when gazing upon them. By contrast, however, when icons simply sit collecting dust, these antique icons, which served as an inspiration to the faithful for generations, are no longer objects of veneration, they are objects of neglect.

Thus, it is our desire that beautiful antique icons, the heritage of the Orthodox Church, will find their way to those who will be inspired by them, to those who will venerate them and will appreciate the significance of the images they are acquiring. Such icons are not new: they are seasoned by the faith and piety of countless Orthodox faithful who have petitioned the saints depicted on them for assistance with the many struggles in their lives for generations. By acquiring such images, venerating them and praying before them, we join ourselves to this chorus of the faithful from years past and ensure that such a holy history will not end with these images being thrown into boxes and ignored. May the day soon come when each of the faithful will one day be able to have one or more antique icons in their icon corners, with the flame of piety drawing them to join themselves to those who have come before in their devotion to Christ and the life of repentance. Continue reading →