Iconography is part of the artistic heritage handed down by the Early Church and revealing God’s “presence” through these paintings. Many Christian temples, chapels, and monasteries have their interiors completely covered in iconography, not so much as a decorative device, but to assist its faithful in worship, prayer, and meditation – especially those who were unable to read.
This teaching aspect of iconography is well described by St. Nilus of Sinai (5th Century A.D.) who wrote, “Let the hand of the artist fill the Church on both sides with images from the Old and New Testaments, in order that those who cannot read the Divine Scriptures should, by looking at the painted images, bring to mind the valiant deeds of those who served God with all sincerity and be themselves incited to rival the glorious and memorable exploits through which they exchanged earth for heaven.”
