I think that it dates from the 500s. I will ask my friend Kosta to read this icon. It is closer to the Christianity of Jesus and the Apostles than anything that came from and after the Reformation. The name of the icon is "Holy Trinity" (Hagia Trias). The Spirit is really not a "person" here but "love between the Father and the Son." very literalitistic and theologically (but no necessarily biblically) wrong, all things considered.
Here is an equally wrong Russian icon of more recent making with a similar idea, although also quite different. Notice the Father's halo is dark (!) and does not represent the alpha and omega and the inscription ΟΩΝ (the Greek equivalent of YHWH) as in the previous. And only Jesus holds the Gospels, but in the other one the Father holds the Ten Commandments. Also the Russian icon identifies the Father as the Lord Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts). Of course, the Father is "old" and the Son is "young" which is heresy.
A more "theologically correct" icon of Trinity is the famous Rublev's icon, showing all three Hypostases as young gedner-neutral angelic (winged) beings
I think either of these is totally blasphemous and wrong. It is one thing to represent Jesus as a man; it's an altogether complete departure from Church teaching to create images of God.
I think either of these is totally blasphemous and wrong. It is one thing to represent Jesus as a man; it's an altogether complete departure from Church teaching to create images of God. You know Kosta, I think this is the first time in all my years of posting on Free Republic that I find myself in agreement with you. :-)
Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
I think either of these is totally blasphemous and wrong. It is one thing to represent Jesus as a man; it's an altogether complete departure from Church teaching to create images of God. The ancient Jews taught that it was wrong to even write the name of God. Since Christians took it upon themselves to write the name of God, what is the difference between writing an icon for the 99% of the population that was illiterate, and writing the name of God for the 1% of the population that could read? Besides, if we go back early enough, the Church taught subordinationalism and no defined Trinity; therefore these icons would have been considered orthodox at one time.