Icon Questions

[Justin Kissel]

What is the Orthodox practice regarding icons of those not yet glorified? For instance, is it wrong for me to want (and get) an icon of Fr. Justin Popovich, since he hasn't officially been declared to be a saint? I know private veneration is ok before someone is officially glorified, but what about icons (and prayers/troparia/etc. for that matter)?

And I have another question, supposing that such an icon was allowed. Do iconographers normally do just about most icons, as long as they have something to work from, or do most iconographers only do certain icons? In other words, if it was ok to get an icon of Fr. Justin, would I have to track down someone to do it (probably in Serbia), or would most places that do icons be able to do one?

(I apologize for saying "do," I'm not sure if the correct word for the making of an icon is draw, paint or right, so I figured I'd play it safe and just use a generic verb)

[George Australia]

What is the Orthodox practice regarding icons of those not yet glorified?

Dear in Christ Justin,
I have an Icon od Blessed Father Seraphim Rose written by an Iconographer who had met him during his life. My understanding is that Icons of persons of blessed memory can be written, (but of course the lettering cannot describe them as a "saint' until they are glorified).
Since to write an Icon is a sanctified action which is different from simply painting a picture, the Iconographer must know the subject and agree that the person to be dypicted is worthy of being dypicted in Icons The iconographer therefore needs to know about their life. We cannot simply give a photograph to an Iconographer and expect an Icon.
George

[romiosini]

Confirmation: Saint Justin Popovich was officially glorified by the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate. If my knowledge serves me well, around the same time with Saint Nicholas Velimirovich of Zicha and Ochrid.

I don't think it's wrong to have Icons of (to-be declared) holy people. Hey... If the faithful don't start calling the help of the Saints that weren't glorified yet, how can they have proof their wonderworking miracles? For example, Saint Seraphim of Sarov was calling Saint even when he was alive.
So I don't think it's at all wrong to call someone that was blessed Saint. (Look at Saint Tikhon, called Saint before his glorification!)

(P.S. Justin if accept the glorifications of World Orthodoxy, then he is a glorified Saint, but unless, if there is reasons that you don't accept him yourself of his Sanctity because your bishop (Or anyone else in Orthodoxy World and Traditional) hasn't glorified him, is a shame...)

[Justin Kissel]

Thank you both, I am glad to hear what you've said.

Regarding Fr. Justin being glorified, I remember being told that a couple times. The first time was in Dec. of 2002, at which time an Antiochian Deacon told me about hearing something about it, but said he couldn't locate any English sources to confirm. Then, sometime in 2003 I read on OC.net a story about Fr. Justin being glorified. However, I was later told hat what this really was was "permission" from the Serbian Patriarchate to continue venerating Justin as a Saint at the local level, though it was not a local-church-wide glorification by the Serbs. I hope this last part is wrong, but that is what I was told at the time shortly after the story of his supposed glorification broke. If anyone can confirm the "status" of St. Justin either way, I'd be grateful!

[romiosini]

I really can't give you any documented proof. But he was glorified but Patriarch Paul presiding with Bishop of Kosovo Artemius and Metropolitan of Montenegro Amphilochius. (I don't know if there were others, because Vladikas Artemije and Amphilochije were spiritual sons of Saint Justin.) Also, that rumor was true until Pavel got together with Saint Justin's spiritual sons and decided to with the decision of the Serbian Synod to go with the glorification. If you look somewhere on the Dechani or Kosovo/Metohija's web site ( I think it's http://www.kosovo.com/ ) and you will see a picture with there place where Master Artemius is at the tomb of Saint Justin with the Dechani Monks and Master Theodosius.

Anyways. Saint Justin's lived has been publicly printed in many books in my home Island in Cyprus. (Sadly last time when I went, I didnt know who SAint Justin was.

[Sean]

A clergyman once told me that the Service of Glorification does not "make" a saint, but simply confirms their saintlhood, as the result of years of local veneration, miraculous intercessions, etc... A saint is anyone who has passed this temporal life and has attained salvation in the hereafter; ie. a member of the Church in Heaven.

--Sean

[Nicodemus]

Interesting that I stumbled across this thread almost immediately after registering on the site. I was going to ask about an icon of St. Justin. I've seen icons of him (complete with halo) on websites, but they've been handpainted originals, not prints to buy. I guess I need to start randomly emailing Serbian churches. :mrgreen: