By the activity of the Holy Spirit this regeneration is made available to individuals, so that they may live in hope and expectation of progressing from being created in the image of God to living after the likeness of God, i.e., being deified. Never will cease honoring the matter which wrought my salvation. As the Word made flesh remained the Word, so also flesh became the Word, yet remained flesh, being united to the person of the Word. I do not draw an image of the immortal Godhead, but I paint the image of God who became visible in the flesh. Thus although the Decalogue forbids idolatry in the Old Testament, the Incarnation supersedes the prohibition in the New Testament.
Icons are theology in line, image, color and beauty.
These metaphors are attempts to describe the existential function of icons which is to materially express the doctrine of theosis. In it we see the hope and expectation of a transfigured creation, of which we are a part. The first manifestation of Christ's regeneration of the world is seen in the Virgin Mary. Theosis recognizes and expects a new creation, and an icon proclaims and renders present that new creation. Because theosis is the doctrinal basis of iconography there is also an alphabet, a language represented in a myriad of subtle artistic expressions with which it speaks.