Icons as a Means of Grace

There is a revival of interest in icons throughout the Christian world and across denominational boundaries. Icons as a Means of Grace is a timely book that guides the reader through the history of Christian icons and explains their theological and spiritual significance. It has a strong ecumenical flavor, and the author, whilst true to his Western, Protestant and Reformed roots, explores connections and differences between various Christian traditions in a way that is both informative and encouraging to the reader. John de Gruchy writes as an internationally renowned Reformed theologian and leading commentator on Christianity and art. This book is divided into three parts. In the first the growing interest in icons beyond the boundaries of Orthodoxy is located in contemporary interests in spirituality. Then a series of short chapters deal with a range of issues that are intended to help Protestant and especially Reformed Christians understand and appreciate icons better, hence the occasional reference to Calvin and other Reformed theologians and convictions. In the second part the story of Orthodox icons is told, beginning with the emergence and triumph of Orthodoxy and then exploring the classical icons of Byzantine Christianity and those of the Coptic and Ethiopian traditions in Africa. In this section connections and differences between the experience of the Western Church and that of the East are discussed. The final section, based on the articles of the Nicene Creed common to most Christians including the Reformed discusses the way in which icons tell the story of Christian faith.