| In the modern-day Orthodox Church, by far the | | | | go. Some of the most ancient icons existing to the |
| majority of icons in both private homes and Churches | | | | modern day were painted in the first centuries of |
| are mounted icons, printed images affixed to wood. | | | | Christianity, such as the primitive paintings found in |
| Despite the ever-increasing number of talented | | | | the Catacombs around Rome and many icons |
| iconographers we have in the Orthodox Church | | | | cherished at St. Catherine's monastery on Mt. Sinai. |
| today, many people simply cannot afford to buy | | | | Regardless of whether a given icon is 1500 years old |
| hand-painted icons, especially when the prices are | | | | or 150 years old, antique icons have almost all been |
| compared to printed versions of the same image. | | | | prayed in front of for generations: prayed in front of |
| Where does this leave the hand-painted icons made | | | | by mother's whose children were fighting in wars |
| in centuries past, which are usually even more | | | | (such as the "Patriotic War of 1812" in Russia), |
| expensive than new hand-painted icons? | | | | prayed in front of by countless priests for their |
| The reality is that many Antique Icons on the market | | | | flocks. Antique icons are infused with prayer and the |
| today are bought by collectors: collectors who have | | | | tragedy of the situation is that many such icons sit |
| a deep appreciation for such icons and often own | | | | on the shelves of antique stores, perhaps right next |
| many beautiful Antique Icons. Such collectors devote | | | | to antique cigarette cases or busts of "Lenin", |
| many, many years to learning about the various | | | | collecting dust and being ignored. |
| aspects of Antique Icons (school of painting, age, | | | | When such icons are sold to collectors, they are |
| provenance, etc) and come to a point where they | | | | being sold to individuals who appreciate their antiquity |
| can easily determine the approximate age of an icon, | | | | and will treat them with respect. Most such collectors |
| the icon "school", etc by simply glancing at an image. | | | | are believers who are inspired by such icons to turn |
| Collectors are also acutely aware that Antique Icons | | | | their thoughts heavenward when gazing upon them. |
| steadily increase in value over time... a collection that | | | | By contrast, however, when icons simply sit collecting |
| cost several thousands of dollars to build may now | | | | dust, these antique icons, which served as an |
| be worth millions of dollars, particularly with the | | | | inspiration to the faithful for generations, are no |
| increases in interest in Antique Icons observed over | | | | longer objects of veneration, they are objects of |
| the past 20 years. | | | | neglect. |
| By contrast, within the Orthodox Church, such icons | | | | Thus, it is our desire that beautiful antique icons, the |
| are seldom discussed except by experts and | | | | heritage of the Orthodox Church, will find their way |
| iconographers. Antique icons are commonly venerated | | | | to those who will be inspired by them, to those who |
| by the faithful in Churches who then move on to the | | | | will venerate them and will appreciate the significance |
| many other icons that may be present within the | | | | of the images they are acquiring. Such icons are not |
| Church without thinking much about the history of | | | | new: they are seasoned by the faith and piety of |
| the holy image that was just venerated (unless it | | | | countless Orthodox faithful who have petitioned the |
| happens to be a wonderworking "Antique Icon", such | | | | saints depicted on them for assistance with the |
| as the "Kursk Root" icon of the Mother of God). | | | | many struggles in their lives for generations. By |
| Many of the faithful do not know the basics of style | | | | acquiring such images, venerating them and praying |
| and "school" as relate to antique icons, oftentimes | | | | before them, we join ourselves to this chorus of the |
| preferring "custom" hand-painted icons to antique | | | | faithful from years past and ensure that such a holy |
| icons. | | | | history will not end with these images being thrown |
| The question thus arises: Why should antique icons | | | | into boxes and ignored. May the day soon come |
| have a significant role in the modern-day Orthodox | | | | when each of the faithful will one day be able to |
| Church? | | | | have one or more antique icons in their icon corners, |
| Without question, the role of antique icons is related | | | | with the flame of piety drawing them to join |
| to the fact that they, like Orthodox Christianity itself, | | | | themselves to those who have come before in their |
| have seen many ages of human history come and | | | | devotion to Christ and the life of repentance. |