Icon is a Greek word meaning image.
To Eastern Christianity, an icon is specifically a sacred image which represents biblical stories or personalities, painted in accordance with Church traditions. The Eastern Church is responsible for forming and preserving the almost 2000 year old tradition of icon painting. To the untrained observer, many icons look somber and almost repulsive. There is a holy and mysterious language to icons that must be learned before true depth of understanding takes place. This leaflet attempts an introduction into the special language of icons, their history, and their various relations to humanity.