The theological and iconographic dimension of Christ’s representation in Orthodoxy

This text presents a systematic analysis of the icon in the Orthodox theological tradition, emphasising the dogmatic fundamentals of its veneration and the development of a Christological iconographic typology. Starting from the central premise of the Incarnation of the Son of God – the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15) – the icon is understood as a visible manifestation of a transcendent reality, being theologically legitimate by virtue of the eternal Word assuming human nature. The work outlines the essential distinctions between latria and dulia, according to synodal and patristic teachings, and broadly reconstructs the historical course of the iconoclastic controversies that led to the formulation of a coherent ecclesiology of the sacred image. On an iconological level, the study proposes a thematic and functional classification of Christ’s representations in Orthodox iconography, highlighting the dogmatic, liturgical and aesthetic aspects of sacred images. From the Pantocrator icon and Christ’s archpriest representations to the Passion cycle and the illustration of the Holy Trinity, the approach aims to articulate a theological vision of the image, in which the aesthetic dimension is inseparable from its soteriological and ecclesial content. In conclusion, the Orthodox icon is valued as a visual expression of Revelation, rooted in Tradition and inscribed in the liturgical dynamics of ecclesial communion.