Who Can Paint Icons?
Iconography is a calling, not a chosen profession. It is a special office of the Church. Not everyone may paint icons. No more than just anyone may be a priest. God appoints the iconographer as he appoints his priests. It is a privilege, not a right. He has the Grace to do what God has called the iconographer to do. In other words, what brings the icon to life is the Grace of God through the iconographer. Just as the icon is painted when the brush is used by the iconographer and can not become a reality without the iconographer which uses the paint and brush as his tool, the reality becomes a living thing through the iconographer [Gods tool] by Gods Grace. The icon then need not be blessed by a priest, it is a blessing. itself. The hand of the iconographer is guided by the Holy Spirit just as the iconographer guides the brush. What he produces is the Will of the Spirit. Once the name of the Saint is written on the icon the spirit of the saint enters into it. Therefore, an icon need not
