[...] This book was written to address a specific pastoral need. Many young people come to our monastery with serious iconographic questions. Other burning questions regarding the icons have been posed by catechumens in countries where some of the sisters of our monastery have done missionary work, countries where Orthodox tradition does not exist. Most people in such places disclose to us that they know absolutely nothing about the icons and even regard them as idols! Many confide that when they stand before the icons to pray they feel as if they stand before a brazen image and not a living, charismatic presence. This book, then, was written for all those mentioned above and for whichever brother or sister in the wishes to learn the depth of the Church΄s teaching regarding the holy icons. It is our prayer that they find in this book some answers and that they be helped to love the Orthodox icons, to understand them, to come into a communion and relationship of love with the represented persons and, most importantly, be transfigured. For, in understanding and appreciating the Orthodox icons, we come to love and understand liturgical life and are guided toward transfiguration in the Holy Spirit. (from the prologue of the book)