Symbolism

From OrthodoxWiki
Revision as of 18:45, May 1, 2006 by Andrew (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

In the Church, symbolism plays a very important role for the Church is material and spiritual. The material can seen, and it is accessible, but the spiritual is indicated through symbols.

This article or section is a stub (i.e., in need of additional material). You can help OrthodoxWiki by expanding it.

In the Church

The symbolism of the Church cannot be successfully studied outside the Liturgy. Separated from the divine services, symbolism loses its meaning and becomes a series of sterile abstractions.

Mysterious language

Symbolism expresses indirectly, through images, that which cannot be expressed directly materially or verbally. Symbolism hides truths which it reflects from those who are not initiated and makes them understandable to those who know how to approach them.

Symbol not sign

There is a necessary spiritual distinction between symbol and sign. A sign only portrays reality. A symbol always qualifies it in a certain way, bringing forth a superior reality. To understand a sign is to translate an indication. To understand a symbol is to participate in the presence.