October 23, 2025Open Access

Correspondence of Images of Saints to the Hierarchy of Christian ethical Values in the program for painting an orthodox Church

Key Points

Images of saints were analyzed through a semiotic perspective, highlighting their relationship with Christian ethics.
The study examines the connection between sacred art and ethical teachings in Orthodox Christianity.
The analysis links St. John Cassian’s hierarchy of virtues with church painting programs.
This research sheds light on the philosophical dimensions of Christian representations in church art.

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comparison of ethical Christian teaching, or more precisely, the patristic teaching of virtues with the traditional structure of an Orthodox church and the traditions of constructing a program for painting a church. As an example, the painting programs of two churches in eastern Ukraine are considered. The author describes in detail how the three-level hierarchy of virtues proposed by St. John Cassian the Roman corresponds to the three-part structure of the Orthodox church. The article also examines images of saints from a semiotic perspective. The article helps to better understand the philosophical picture of the world of Christians.

Correspondence of Images of Saints to the Hierarchy of Christian ethical Values in the program for painting an orthodox Church

Key Points

Abstract

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