Icons are often described, quite properly, as windows into heaven, because they reveal to us elements of the kingdom of God. They show us the spiritualized, glorified form of the saints depicted in them, as well as the spiritual reality which lay behind various events of salvation history. This is why they, though they often are seen as being unrealistic in relation to empirical standards, they are said as being realistic according to spiritual ones. They give us a glimpse of the kingdom of God, of the radiance of God’s holy energy which surrounds and penetrates us, and the way that energy can and will transform us as we participate in the glory of the kingdom of God which comes from it. We are not meant to be a mere observer or visitor of the kingdom of God, but a part of it.
The halo found on icons represents the way the light of divine grace, the light of the light of the world, when we work with it and let it inside ourselves, can and will shine through all of us. The holier we are, the more we will participate in it, and so the more it will shine. The halo is meant to demonstrate this to us. And it is not something which we have achieved all by ourselves. The kingdom of God infuses us with grace. Though such grace. we find ourselves participating in and experiencing the various uncreated energies of God, each of which give us one way for us to join in with God’s eternal activity. The halo is a necessary part of the icon, just as the name of the saint is a necessary part of the icon; it exemplifies the inner light, the light of grace, which the saint has received. Similarly, upon seeing it in an icon, we are being told that the light of grace is something to be shared; if it is in us, it will be something which others will be able to sense, and perhaps even see if they have eyes which have been opened to the spiritual reality which lies behind the empirical form which we normally perceive. Similarly, if our spiritual eyes have been opened, we will be able to perceive the light in others. Icons give us a way for us to perceive this reality with our material eyes, however, the foundation of the icon should be more than an extrapolation of that holiness, but rather, should come from the iconographer who has some experience of it themselves, some experience of the holiness and light coming from the subject(s) they are depicting. Why? Because then the icon will be based upon a truth which the iconographer has experienced, giving them what the authenticity they need to transmit that truth to others through the icons they write.
This is something which I have had some experience with. I sometimes can and do get a sense of the holiness of the subject involved in the icon, and as such, experience the way the icon connects me to the subjects being depicted in them. Sometimes I experience this in a rather striking way, as I get a glimpse, however brief, of the energy, the divine glory, radiating through the icon itself. It happens every so often, usually for a few second, but there was one time when I experienced this for a whole weekend. It was when I was working on my Master’s degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati. The parish I went to, St. Barbara the Great, was in Dayton, and its liturgical service was had on Saturday evenings (because the pastor also served at St. Athanasius in Indianapolis, and this enabled him to serve at both parishes). One night when I kneeling, praying and silencing myself to prepare me for liturgy, I started getting a weird sense from the icons around me that they were glowing with a unique kind of light, and it was something I experienced several times during the liturgy. Then, after I returned home, I started having the same sense coming from the icons in my apartment, especially those around my computer. It was something which stayed with me that weekend. It was not just the light was coming from the icons around me, the light seemed to be pulsating. Eventually, things returned to normal. Since then, every so often, I have had a similar, but lesser experience, usually when I try to meditate, and I experience this light, not only with icons, but also when I outside, sitting quietly and enjoying the natural world around me. In this fashion, I have gotten a sense of the way God’s grace, God’s uncreated energy, is found throughout all creation.
My experiences have helped me understand how and why icons can be said to be windows into heaven, into the kingdom of God, and how they to connect us to the subjects depicted in them in a way which transcends abstract theological conclusions and philosophical speculations. It is also what has me convinced of the truth that the kingdom of God is all around us, even as it is within us. Each time I have experienced the light and glory which is all around me, I have also gained a sense of peace coming from it. I felt that God was indeed at work in me and with me and all around me, that God’s holiness is something which God shares with others, and through it, as Julian of Norwich said, all will indeed be well. Similarly, I got a better sense of how we can experience the glory of the kingdom of God now, even when there is more to experience, showing that indeed the eschaton is already and not yet with us. The eschaton is immanent but also transcendent; the immanent eschaton is working to transform and bring us to a greater state of being, a state which we have yet to realize and will not until we fully find ourselves in eternity, the eternity which is being represented to us in icons.
Light from light, energy of the divine,
Radiates in and through all things.
Giving every one of us a beautiful sign
Of what the divinity really means.
Despite our sin, despite the cosmic fall,
God remains with us, ever immanent.
God loves all, acts with all, is in all,
While still being absolutely transcendent.
We lose sight of God, not God us:
We cover ourselves with a dark veil.
And yet, there is nothing to discuss:
For the light shines and God will prevail.
Cast away the barrier for a second
And see the light shine bright.
By, we are constantly beckoned
To wait for the end of our dark night.
* This Is Part LXII Of My Personal (Informal) Reflections And Speculations Series
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