Peters 1

Renée Peters

Dr. Emily Stelzer

Writing III

24 September 2021

Annotated Bibliography

Primary Text: Three Treatises on the Divine Images by St. John of Damascus

Topic: Nature and Validity of Iconography within the text

Research Question: According to Divine Images, how does the incarnation of Jesus Christ make

depicting God possible? What does St. John of Damascus believe about depicting the invisible

God? What does the nature of iconography reveal to us? What does it reveal about human

nature? How does iconography help us to get closer to God?

Anthony, Sean W. “Fixing John Damascene’s Biography: Historical Notes on His Family

Background.” Journal of Early Christian Studies, vol., 23. (4), 2015, pp. 607-627.

https://doi.org/10.1353/earl.2015.0048

This is a review and correction of the evidence concerning John of Damascene’s life. It is

thorough examination of the history of his family and the historical and geographical

context at the time he lived. It gives new insights into his biography that will give the

reader an understanding of his life and how he came to write the works he did.

Context and understanding of the author’s life may help the audience understand why he

believes in iconography and what aspects of his life led him to venerate them. This

information will be vital in understanding the St. John’s point of view.

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Forest, Jim. Praying with Icons, Orbis Books, 1997. Print. pp

Forest illuminates the prayer life and spiritual journey of a typical iconographer. The

artist does not work separately from God but surrenders his hand to the Lord so he may

create holy and excellent works. In addition, what Forest has to say about the depiction of

the holy trinity is intriguing and speaks of how challenging creating icons can be.

This will help reveal the heart behind iconography and the process of creating each piece.

It will give context to iconography and the humanity within its divinity.

Kontouma, Vassa. John of Damascus: New Studies on his Life and Works, Ashgate

Publishing, 2015. Print. pp.

Kontouma pulls together numerous sources and extrapolates on the life and works of

John of Damascus. She specifically analyzes the book Life of John and what it says about

his life. The book also showcases a few of his prominent and obscure works.

This text is included to give more insight into the life of St. John and his other ideas to

decipher why he believes in iconoclasm.

Martin, Edward James. The History of the Iconoclastic Controversy, London: Society for

Promoting Christian Knowledge: The Macmillan Co., 1930. Print. pp.

Martin assesses the controversy of iconography throughout history in early Christianity.

It specifically looks at the role of iconoclasm and its backlash in the Orthodox Eastern

Church. It’s role in churches from different cultures and eras will give more insight into

why it was disliked for so long.

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It is important to have multiple perspectives on a topic and it would be critically sound to

have the oppositional voice within the essay’s arguments.

Narinskaya, Elena. “On the Divine Images: Theology Behind the Icons and their

Veneration in the Early Church.” Transformation, vol., 29. (issue), 2012, pp. 139-

148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265378812439956

Narinskaya addresses the controversy of iconography throughout church history,

specifically the 8th century. Her research dives deeper into the theological discourses of

St. John and how both early and modern iconography could be misunderstood.

This will be helpful to us This will be helpful to understanding the nature of iconography

and its historical context.

Ouspensky, Léonide and Vladimir Lossky. The Meaning of Icons, Translated by G.E.H.

Palmer and E. Kadloubovsky, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1999. Print. pp.

https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=218695

Ouspensky and Lossky convey the meaning of iconography regarding human nature.

They unveil how iconography can lead human nature to illumination. They also highlight

the styles and techniques of iconography.

This also addresses iconography helps lead one closer to God and how the styles and

techniques reveal the spiritual.

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Payton, James R. “John of Damascus on Human Cognition: An Element in His Apologetic

for Icons.” Church History, vol.65, no.2 (issue), 1996, pp. 173-183.

https://doi.org/10.2307/3170286

Payton describes the significance of human cognition and how that idea was been grafted

into the arguments for iconography. St. John is beginning to grapple with the impact of

iconography on psychology. He grapples with how our senses of the physical are

influenced by the depiction of the spiritual.

This text also answers another world context question about the impact of iconography

on human nature and what it reveals about the soul.

Quenot, Michel. The Icon: Window on the Kingdom, English Language Translation, St.

Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1996. Print. pp.

Quenot explains the historical origin and development of icons. He elucidates on the

beginning of Christian art and its influence across religious sects, cultures, and nations.

Later, Quenot speaks on the purity of iconography and specifically how the depiction of

the incarnation is a “beacon illuminating every aspect and instant of Christian life.”

Including the historical context and origins of iconography within the essay will help

explain and answer the questions of its nature and significance.

Sava, Viorel. “Christ-centered dimension of Byzantine iconography in the writings of St.

John Damascene.” Teologie Ortodoxă, vol. XV, no.2, 2010, pp. 111-122

Sava explains that the technological world we live in is dominated by images but

throughout history the world has always been dominated by images. He analyzes St.

John’s synthesis of theology of the icon and how Christ is the center of iconography.
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This gives a world context concerning iconographies as well as a deeper look into Christ

being the center of most religious iconography. This will tackle the questions of His

significance within iconographic depictions.

Schönborn, Christoph. God’s Human Face: The Christ-Icon, Translated by Lothar Krauth,

Ignatius Press, 1994. Print. pp.

Schönborn meditates in his writing on the artistic depictions of God and His mysteries of

His human countenance. He aims to relay the beauty and purpose of icons and how they

draw us closer to the Father. Most importantly, he explains the significant of the Christ

icon.

This book is essential to tackling the question of how the incarnation allows God to be

depicted and why and how it helps one get closer to God.

Vrame, Anton C. The Educating Icon: Teaching Wisdom and Holiness in the Orthodox Way,

Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1999. Print. pp.

Vrame conveys how iconography informs, forms, and transforms an individual by

religious instruction. The icon gives the viewer revelation that relates to the stories of

their community. This revelation forms the person to participate in the life depicted in the

icons. After this, the person undergoes personal, social, and cosmic transformation.

This piece of information is important because it reveals what iconography teaches

humanity and how it shapes our relationship with God.