Where are icons from?

Question:

Where did the icons appear from? Shall we worship them? I know that in the Bible it says to not worship the wood carvings. But are they holy or not? How to proceed?

Previously I wrote the article What is the difference between an idol and an icon? and I addressed this topic.

The term “icon” is a Greek word that literally means “image.”

As for the appearance of icons, one thing is certain that they are not mentioned in the New Testament as a practice of the first Christians. None of the apostles made any reference to the practice of worshiping the icons, or that they would be holy.

It is also worth mentioning that you will not find a description of the outer portrait of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament. Four evangelists being guided by the Holy Spirit described in great details the person and work of Christ, but did not present His outer portrait. Thus, we do not know what color the eyes or hair of the Lord Jesus were or other characteristics. The images we see on the icons are very different and they try to represent the Lord Jesus just as the painters have imagined. Why do you think the Holy Spirit did not let to be written in detail about the appearance of Jesus the Holy Scriptures?

Translated by Felicia Rotaru