An Orthodox icon is a theological image, a window into the spiritual world, representing a religious image. It has a number of features that give it special value and significance. Firstly, icons have a unique structure. They wear a bright palette of colors, as well as a clear symmetry that emphasizes their religious meaning. Secondly, icons have their own special symbols. They often carry inscriptions that denote religious meanings, mysterious symbols, and reverse perspective. Through contradictory plots that attract everyone’s attention, the thousand-year history of Christian Russia is revealed.
It often seems that the most interesting things are created somewhere far away, but one has only to take a closer look at what surrounds us from early childhood. When we begin to immerse ourselves in Russian culture — the Middle Ages, Modern Times, the Soviet period, modern — we discover unexpected things. The three-armed Theotokos, St. Christopher with the head of a dog, the Mermaid Theotokos, the Bloody Pelican — all this captures attention and amazes a little. Having looked closely at the Russian icon, you can replace many interesting plots. which have not been noticed before. Scenes of brutal torture, horned people, trees with muscles and killer mosquitoes.
Since there was and is no text that would regulate what is allowed to be shown in the icon and what is not, we will also consider “unofficial” icons created in parallel with the dominant church position. This infographic is based on the book by Sergey Zotov “Iconographic lawlessness”. The images from this text were divided into visual groups and presented in the form of illustrations. In turn, they are arranged according to the scheme-structure of one of the most interesting icons — the “All-seeing Eye”.