Praying with Icons (3rd Revised Edition)

By: Jim Forest

$28.00

Overview

3rd revised edition

Foreword by Robert Ellsberg

Afterword by Nancy Forest-Flier

“In Praying with Icons beauty itself bears witness to God.”—Michael Downey

“This book is a blessing, made extraordinarily graceful by icons, those who have honored and saved them in history, and by Jim Forest whose love for them is shared unabashedly.”—Megan McKenna

“Just as iconographers, in the language of the art, ‘write’ an icon, Forest teaches us how to read one. In his hands icons become a lectio divina, a holy reading, of color. . . . We will need a book such as this for a long, long time in this changing world.” —Joan Chittister, OSB

"Recent years have seen a marked increase in the popular and ecumenical appeal of icons (for centuries an integral feature of Orthodox Christianity). Jim Forest's Praying With Icons offers a simple introduction to the tradition of icons with special emphasis on their practical function in the spiritual life. Beautifully illustrated both with color plans and b/w photography, Praying With Icons begins with a history of iconography. Icons are not simply illustrations or "art" in the usual sense, but aids to prayer and contemplation, windows on the divine. Forest also provides a personal and practical guide to how one prays with icons. Forest then concludes with a series of meditative reflections on some of the most typical icons, including the Annunciation, the Nativity, Christ's Baptism, the Transfiguration, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, representations of Mary, the trinity, and the Saints. Praying With Icons is a superlative introduction to icons and is highly recommended for readers seeking to expand their spiritual experience to encompass the entire Christian spiritual legacy. "--Midwest Book Review

From its original publication in 1997 Praying with Icons has been hailed as a modern spiritual classic, both for readers familiar with the tradition of icons as well as those who are newcomers to this sacred art. Jim Forest, a convert to the Russian Orthodox Church, describes the history and theology behind icons, how they are made, and how they are used as a guide to prayer.

As Forest shows, icons are not simply illustrations or “art” in the usual sense, but aids to prayer and contemplation, windows on the divine. Drawing on a rich selection of classic and contemporary icons, he offers a series of meditative reflections on some of the most typical subjects of icons, including Christ, Mary, and the saints.

This new edition includes a previously unpublished chapter by Jim Forest, and a personal memoir by his widow, Nancy Forest, about the role that icons played in his life, their marriage, and his final illness.

Jim Forest, who died in 2022, was a lifelong peacemaker and author of many Orbis books including Living with Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton, All is Grace: A Biography of Dorothy Day, At Play in the Lions’ Den: A Biography and Memoir of Daniel Berrigan; Eyes of Compassion: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh; and Writing Straight with Crooked Lines: A Memoir

Cover art: Icon by Andrei Rublev, “Savior of Zvenigorod”; design by Diane Mastrogiulio

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Click Here For The Table Of Contents

Click Here For The Book Introduction