Icon, << Y kon, >> is a religious painting considered sacred in the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Most icons are portraits of God, Jesus Christ, or saints. They are painted according to rules established by church authorities and are intended to convey the heavenly glory of the holy subjects portrayed. Thus, icons appear more stylized than realistic. They lack shadows, and figures may seem stiff and posed.
Icons are displayed in homes and in churches, especially on the iconostasis, a screen that stands between the sanctuary and the congregation. Worshipers show devotion by praying before icons, kissing them, or lighting candles. Icons are often carried in religious processions.
