Icons: Glimpses into Eternity

The essence of the Christian Gospel lies in the profound truth that the infinite and invisible God became visible and accessible through the person of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Central to the Scriptures is the declaration that, in the incarnate Logos, the created world has been granted a vision of the invisible God. Icons, therefore, stand as a powerful affirmation of the Scriptural proclamation that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," and that we "have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

In this light, icons are far more than mere artistic representations; they are profound witnesses to the eternal kingdom inaugurated by Christ. They serve as an invitation—here and now—to partake in the spiritual banquet of the age to come. Icons testify to a world transfigured by the abiding presence of Christ among us, offering a foretaste of the life that triumphs over the boundaries of death and decay. Through them, we encounter Christ not merely as a historical figure but as one who is alive and present today, inviting us into a "way of life" that reflects the transformative reality of His victory. In doing so, icons grant us glimpses of the joy, beauty, and delight of eternity.

Bio Philip Kariatlis is Sub-Dean and Associate Professor of Theology at St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College, which is affiliated with the Sydney College of Divinity. He studied  Theology at St Andrew's, Modern Greek at University of Sydney, and received his MTh and PhD in Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity. His most recent book is entitled: Church as Communion: Gift and Goal of Koinonia (2011). He has a podcast series on Ancient Faith Radio www.ancientfaith.com entitled Theology: The Deeper Breath of the Entire Body of the Church.