Icons as Windows of Grace: The Sacred Intersection of Art, Symbol, and Sacrament
Recently I was blessed to have an inspiring conversation with Anglican Bishop Lindsay Urwin, retired Bishop from the UK and Australia, about Icons and I share with you some of the salient points below:
In Eastern Christian traditions, icons are seen as far more than religious art. They are revered as windows into heaven, channels for divine grace, and tangible manifestations of the spiritual presence of the holy figures they depict. For the faithful, an icon is not merely a representation; it is an encounter. To venerate an icon is to respond to the invitation to draw closer to God, to perceive His grace mediated through visible form.
Icons occupy a sacred space in Christian spirituality where symbol and presence interweave. They embody what Catholic theology describes in its understanding of sacraments and sacramentals: visible signs of invisible realities. Just as the sacraments are instituted by Christ and are efficacious signs of grace—conveying what they signify—so icons, in their own way, invite us into a deeper participation with divine life. Their power lies not in the paint or wood, but in what they carry: a sacred presence and a call to communion with God.
The sacraments themselves hold a dual nature. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops teaches, they have both a visible and invisible reality. The visible form is the rite, the action, the object we can see and touch—like water in baptism, or bread and wine in the Eucharist. The invisible is God’s grace working within and through that form, His initiative in offering redemption and love to humanity. This grace is a gift, and our response to it—imitating Christ in daily life—is itself a grace given by God.
While sacraments are central rituals instituted by Christ, sacramentals—such as holy water, rosaries, the Sign of the Cross, and yes, icons—bear a resemblance to sacraments. Though they do not confer grace in the same way, they prepare us to receive it. They sanctify the ordinary, inviting the sacred into daily life and helping us remain mindful of God’s presence.
The icon, then, functions as a kind of sacramental. It sanctifies our gaze. It evokes the presence of the one depicted, drawing us into relationship with the divine mystery. Through form, color, and symbolism, icons project more than their material reality; they bring into the present the holy reality they signify. Their beauty is not only visual but spiritual, awakening in the viewer an awareness of the eternal.
To look upon an icon with faith is to look with the eyes of the heart. In the New Testament, faith and love are inseparable. One cannot be a person of faith without being a person of love—not just sentiment, but a love that transforms one’s whole being. Icons invite us into this love. They offer a quiet yet powerful participation in the mystery of salvation, guiding our hearts to respond to God’s gracious initiative.
Symbols, like icons, give meaning to our lives. They help us remember who we are in relation to God. They build within us a storehouse of spiritual memory—a reservoir of grace and encounter that can sustain us in times of doubt or difficulty. By contemplating the truths they carry, we remember that we live within a great tradition, a flowing river of grace and presence.
In the end, icons do not just teach doctrine or inspire piety; they reflect and participate in the reality of God’s action in the world. They help us to see—not with physical sight alone, but with the inward sight of faith. And through them, we step closer into that divine mystery where the visible and invisible meet.
INTERESTING LINKS FOR ICONOGRAPHERS
Betsy Porter, an iconographer at Saint Gregory’s Church in San Francisco, California, hosts interesting discussions with iconographers on Zoom that are open to all. Here is the current schedule: “These monthly Zoom meetings will continue on May 18, June 15, July 13, August 17, September 14, October 12, November 9, and December 7. If you have a special interest or expertise in any icon-related subject, we welcome you as a discussion leader on your topic.
Some of our Zoom sessions have been recorded, when requested, and archived by St. Gregory’s office. Here’s the permanent link to the Icon video archive. Videos are chronological, named by recording date & time.Icon Videos – Google Drive“. EMail Betsy to be put on her mailing list: betsyhartporter@yahoo.com
Until next month, May God continue to bless the work of your hands,
Christine Simoneau Hales
American Association of Iconographers 