by Alfredo Tradigo. Trans. Stephen Sartarelli. Published by Getty Publications, 2006. Reviewed by Ann Hassan

Icons and Saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church is part of the Getty Publications “Guide to Imagery” series. The book is richly illustrated: an image on each page, each image decoded with accompanying text.

A brief Introduction explains that the icon performs a vital role in Orthodox liturgy, being a sign of the presence of God: not only decoration, or storytelling aid, but also a path from the material to the spiritual.

I was particularly struck by one technique which seems odd to the contemporary Western eye: a figure appearing twice in one image, performing two separate actions. In one panel, for instance, Mary weaves the veil of the Temple while an adjacent, smaller Mary prays in the sanctuary.

Icons and Saints reminds us that our Christian images are products of theologies always in flux, changing over time. It will appeal to readers with an aesthetic interest in iconography and to those interested in the history of theological ideas. The book is standard paperback size, which means some images are smaller than ideal and that text next to the spine is sometimes hard to read, but even so it is a beautiful, informative read.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 245 February 2021: 27