Jesus in the Jordan

Abstract

Icons comprise a traditional Christian practice, through which the church displays her belief in a precise way in order to help the believers and non-believers to grasp various difficult theological concepts. Based on this understanding, church artists, over the centuries, put serious efforts to comply with the biblical details that constitute the foundation of the Christian faith. Consequently, the church embraced the art of iconography into her liturgical worships, by making the consecrated icon part of various celebrations, raising the incense in front of icons, bowing in reverence before them and also kissing them. An example of Christian icons is that of the crucifixion and resurrection of Lord Jesus. Icons should be distinguished from pictures drawn by artists based on free imagination, again in an attempt to depict a Christian event, example of those are the story of the prodigal son and feeding the five thousands. Despite being a relatively free form of art, pictures and portraits should adhere, as much as possible, to the well-established historic and religious facts in order to avoid confusing viewers from simple believers who may erroneously acknowledge them as factual. This article discusses the icon of the baptism of Lord Jesus as an example.