Iconography in the Assyrian Church of the East

[berekaloho]

Dear beloved brother Spyridon in Yashua,Berek Alaha! What a beautiful church you posted the photograph of from the Syrian Malankara Orthodox church(Indian Orthodox).The Armenian Orthodox church follows the same tradition with only an icon of St.Mary and the Christ child at the altar in the sanctuary,which is always elevated upon the bema.The Armenian church is also very sparing in its use of icons with only the one referred to above being present with the exception of maybe a couple of others in the back of the church in the rear narthex.One exception is the magnificent cathederal of St.James in Jerusalem where St.James,the brother of our Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem is buried under the altar.There are numerous ancient oil painted icons in this cathederal but it is still sparing compared to the Eastern Orthodox church.The only Oriental Orthodox churches who use icons alot are the Coptic and Ethiopian.I would like to share a picture of the beautiful ancient cathederal of St.James in Jerusalem.Notice all of the gorgeous hanging oil lamps! There are over 300 of them that the seminarians and Deacons tend and light before and after services as the cathederal has no electricity still.Simply gorgeous in honour of the Lord.As the psalmist prays,o Lord I love the beauty of thy house! I believe our churches sould be simple but as beautiful as possible as it is in honour of the Lord.Look at all the details MarYah gave in regards to the splendour of the ancient Holy Temple of Jerusalem.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.armenian-patriarchate.org/stjam2.htm">http://www.armenian-patriarchate.org/stjam2.htm</a><!-- m --> In Yashua,D.Michael.