The word 'icon' is usually attributed to a painting on a wooden panel for use by the Orthodox Church. While the Catholics have their Madonnas and other statues. Icons are specifically Orthodox, and subject matters range from portraits of saints to complex theological subjects.

Historically speaking, the first icons - representations of Christ and the Apostles - were painted in the 1st century and became a feature of the church of Constantinople and other Christian communities. Constantinople was founded by Constantine the great in 330 A.D. and remained the capital of the East Roman or Byzantine Empire until 1453 when it fell to the Turks. Through their likeness and depiction of saintly images icons were believed to act as mediums between the spiritual and terrestrial world and as such were blessed and venerated and entered the realm of sacred objects.

For centuries theologians argued over the correct use and function of the icon, culminating in the Iconoclast movement of the 8th century when many icons were destroyed. Between 726 and 843 the Emperors banned the production of figurative icons.

While active censorship rarely occurred, the future development of icons was greatly affected. Icons began to appear more and more two-dimensional: while he was free to express his thoughts, the artist feared persecution or the loss of his painting should it appear too realistic. Nonetheless, iconography remained under the influences of the Orthodox peoples.