Synoro, Icon and depicting, issue 36, (1965), 65 pages.
This issue is dedicated to the icon and its depicting, as it is announced in the title, but also includes essays in the memory of F. Kontoglou, T.S. Eliot, Clontel and Boumber. As far as the first part is concerned, there is a short historical retrospection from the period of the Old Testament up to the period of the establishment of the depiction of holy persons in the Christian world, signed by prof. I.N. Theodorakopoulos titled “Icon”.
The iconologist and iconographer L. Ouspenski continues with his study (especially written for Synoro) titled “Thoughts for the future of iconography”. The preeminent professor distinguishes ecclesiastic painting from the other forms of church art, since its dogmatic character, as it was illustrated by the 7th Ecumenical Council, imposes its special honor next to the Cross and to the Gospel which does not happen in the case of ecclesiastic wood carving or the art of interwovening with gold. Then he develops his arguments in favor of the use of “iconographic style”, as he calls the Byzantine style of painting, from the part of Orthodox Church, in relation to the “artistic and realistic style”, as he calls the western iconographic tradition. The text does not hesitate to attribute to a period of decline, the coexistence after the 18th century of the two styles in certain Orthodox temples.
The painter Al. Kontopoulos continues with the study “The importance of poetic icon” in which he examines the aesthetic function of the Icon and he considers it as being harmonized with the highest poetic creative need of man.
Chr. Yannaras signs the last study of the issue in which he identifies the denial of image (person), the iconoclasts, with pietism and conservatism in Christianity.
Four poems by E. Mainas and M. Mounte separate the first part of the magazine, dedicated to the icon from the second part, dedicated to the memory of important intellectual persons. Papatsonis dedicates his text to the poetry of T.P. Eliot. N. Karouzos then writes on the occasion of the repose of F. Kontoglou his text “F. Kontoglou: the Orthodox” considering that what the great author made, that is writing, iconography, poetry etc. emanated from the great root he had in him, Orthodoxy. G. Theotokas writes for the poet Clontel and Peter Levi S.J. writes for Eliot the text “The death of poets: memory of T.S. Eliot”.
D. Stathopoulos makes a very short report on Martin Buber, Jewish philosopher, scientist of religion and sociologist.
The issue is completed with the extracts from the book of Virgil Georgky “From the twenty Fifth hour to the hour of eternity” and the short stories “Chromatic Way” of Keti Chiotelli and “Earth” by N. D. Dimitriadou.
The issue closes with the column Comments and two book reviews.