Episode 27 - Icons (Part Two) - Interview with Aidan Hart

Five Books for Catholics

The books recommended in this episode are:

1. Festal Icons History and Meaning by Aidan Hart
2. The Icon, Image of the Invisible: Elements of Theology, Aesthetics and Tecnique by Egon Sendler
3. The Meaning of Icons by Leonid Ouspenksy and Vladimir Lossky

Five Books for Catholics may receive a commission from qualifying purchases made using the affiliate links to the books listed.

Liturgical icons have been a part of the Church’s tradition from early on and in 787 the Second Council of Nicaea defined dogmatically that the making and veneration of icons, along with the pictorial representation of what the Gospels narrate, is a holy practice. This practice is founded upon the mystery of the Incarnation. Consequently, “all the signs in the liturgical celebrations are related to Christ: as are sacred images of the holy Mother of God and of the saints as well. They truly signify Christ, who is glorified in them.” Catechism of the Catholic Church 1161.

The Second Council of Nicaea encouraged the making and veneration of icons. As St. Basil taught, “the honour rendered to the image passes on to the original”. Furthermore, contemplating icons of Christ, Mary, the angels, and the saints, moves us to contemplate and honour them.

In part one of this this interview, Aidan Hart discussed his top five books on icons. In this second part, he considers some further recommended readings.

Aidan Hart has been a professional icon painter and carver for forty years, with works in over twenty-five countries of the world, including with the Pope and other Patriarchs. An ordained Reader of the Orthodox Church, he is a frequent speaker at conferences and churches and has been on numerous TV and radio programmes. He teaches a three-year part-time course in icon painting for The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Art. He has published Festal Icons (2022), Beauty Spirit Matter (2014), and Techniques of Icon and Wall Painting (2011), all published by Gracewing.

Read the interview at www.fivebooksforcatholics.com/icons-part-two/

For more interviews like this, visit ⁠www.fivebooksforcatholics.com⁠

⁠Sign up ⁠to receive updates on the latest interview.

⁠Become a premium subscriber⁠ to listen to the full interview and have access to complete archive on the website.

If you have enjoyed this episode, please give the podcast a top rating.

You can also support this podcast by making a one-off tip or donations. Just click here.