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For many centuries religious icons have been the principal way of expressing faith and picturing biblical events as well as means of documenting the biography of some saints and martyrs.
Icon is a Greek word which means a picture simulator or identical and in the orthodox tradition it is a picture that resembles a person (Christ, Virgin Mary, Saints... ) or a holy scene which is drawn on wood following special techniques and traditions.
Religious icons have been always a corner stone in churches and their features have reflected over the years, different beliefs and symbols. An expert eye can identify the differences between various eras and styles of icons.
One of the most distinguished religious icons belong to the Coptic Church
Icons in the Byzantine and related traditions, the figures are depicted frontally, looking straight at the viewer. Today, Coptic icons are found not only in churches, but also in homes and praying altars. They may also be purchased from Coptic gift shops throughout Egypt.
During the papacy of Pope Cyril VI, the emergence of Coptic painters like Dr. Isaac Fanous Youssef, along with the revival of Coptic art, brought about the creation of the Contemporary or Neo-Coptic school of iconography.
The style he originated incorporates elements from pharaonic art as well as Byzantine art, and accurately reflects the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
It also uses modern art theory such as Cubism and Impressionism in the service of the sacred, which makes the Neo-Coptic Style accessible and pleasing to the western eye.Professor Fanous is considered as the Egyptian master of the Neo-Coptic style of iconography, which draws heavily on its
Pharaonic artistic heritage as well as modern art theory
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