The art of Iconography in the Eastern Orthodoxy Church is a holy ritual art , the same as all other Ecclesiastical arts . It has a more spiritual purpose than just ornamenting the Church with paints and pleasing the eyes of the viewers . This art called (hagiography )in Greek language or the holy picture , because it portrays the individuals and the holy themes . The Iconographer (hagiographos  )is not supposed to use this art in a professional way , as in the old days , this art was strictly for monks and the wall and portable portraits were performed inside the Church step by step .

The Byzantine Icon has a theological meaning , it is drawn in such a strange and unique way to make it distinguished of other religious portraits , which are materially drawn as was can see in the other religious arts

That is why we find this wonderful purity in the Byzantine icons , which elevate us highly above the mortal world .

This unchangeable art ( such as Jesus Christ's Church ) has never changed with life and humanity .

This holy ritual is the fire column that leads the Church through the wildness of the unstable world and that is why it is considered a surprise for the man of this century , who dose not seek the depth of the spiritual sea , as floating on the surface of the emotions makes the man drifts with water currents and whirlpools .

This art feeds our souls with the themes and scenes inspired by the Holy Book , as well as making us enter through the gates of feelings cheering up our souls with the heavenly wine and give us peace of mind .

The proficiency of this art is not a mechanical one , but it rather combines with the spirituality and the holiness of the things which are to be drawn , even the materials involved in making the icon are pure , natural and aromatic .

Thus ,the woods used for drawing the icon is usually taken from Cypress or nut or chestnut or pine trees or any other aromatic tree , and the colors are extracted from earth and spread an aromatic smell when mixed with water , especially in wall portraits ( fresco) , so as soon as the Iconography lays his colors on the lime wall and before the wall dries , an aromatic smell spreads in the air such as the mountains before touched by the first rain drops of the autumn .

Thick or coarse materials are not used in this art , unlike the other plastic art ( such as flax oil, thick paints and hard and hairy brushes ).

The beauty of the Byzantine icons comes from the spiritual beauty which does not come from the beauty of the flesh , and it looks very ordinary without any excessive adornment .

The Great Iconographers fast when they work and they changed their under wears as soon as they started drawing , in order to be pure from both inside and outside and they chanted the psalms so that their work can penetrate the spirit of repentance and refuse to be indulged in any other mortal matter .

Thus; the Byzantine icons seems deformed to those who have a mortal spirit and who views people from a physical prospect not a spiritual one .

Finally : We find that the flash is crucified with the emotions and desires in the Byzantine icons and thus this art is both exciting and strict in the same time.