Philosophical and theological basis of icon painting

Abstract

An icon is a sacred work of art that is both material and spiritual, based on the cultural experience acquired by the Christian community over two thousand years of Christian civilization. This is the uniqueness and universality of the icon in the Christian concept of knowing and worshiping God. The authors analyse such philosophical foundations of icon painting as transcendentality, metaphysic and ontological nature, and anthropologism. The material and spiritual nature of the icon is determined, the theological foundations of icon painting are identified including the observance of the canons and mysticism.