The description of this program is taken from the registration site of BACE so that readers know what the program will offer:
"Although there was intermittent veneration of images in the first seven centuries of the Christian church, by the eighth century iconic depictions of liturgical celebrations had become a major part of devotion. Icons adorned homes to protect family life, were worn at the battlefield to aid in victory, painted on mausoleums to help in the afterlife, and revered at churches and social gathering spots as allegorical reminders of a higher power. A tremendous controversy over imagery in the church, fueled mainly by powerful anti-iconoclastic emperors in Constantinople, marked the beginning of a more formalized role of icons in religious life. Join us to learn about famous icons from different orthodox countries including works from the Byzantine era, Balkan School, and Moscow School. We'll discuss the history and beauty of icon painting, and the fascinating traditions that shaped its cultural heritage."
