BYZANTINE ICONS

Iconography was an integral part of worship and the mystical life in early Christianity, and was given special attention by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. Icons played an essential role in religious practices and the visual representation of the divine. They were referred to as "windows into heaven" in the Eastern Christian tradition. This sacred art has inspired and uplifted millions of faithful, and has been the instrument for demonstrating God's miraculous intercession in the life of mankind.