A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Obedient artists and mediators : Women icon painters in the Finnish Orthodox Church from the mid-twentieth to the twenty-first century (2020)

Husso, K. (2020). Obedient artists and mediators : Women icon painters in the Finnish Orthodox Church from the mid-twentieth to the twenty-first century. In H. Kupari, & E. Vuola (Eds.), Orthodox Christianity and Gender : Dynamics of Tradition, Culture and Lived Practice (pp. 63-79). Routledge. Routledge Studies in Religion. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203701188-4

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Husso, Katariina

Parent publication: Orthodox Christianity and Gender : Dynamics of Tradition, Culture and Lived Practice

Parent publication editors: Kupari, Helena; Vuola, Elina

ISBN: 978-1-138-57420-5

eISBN: 978-0-203-70118-8

Journal or series: Routledge Studies in Religion

Publication year: 2020

Pages range: 63-79

Number of pages in the book: 224

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: Abingdon

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203701188-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67617

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of women icon painters in the Finnish Orthodox Church in the second half of the twentieth century. The 1960s witnessed the entry of women professionals into the fields of icon production and related research in Finland. The new role of women as iconographers and icon scholars highlighted the unchallenged division between official and unofficial Orthodoxy as, before, the public representatives and spokespersons of Orthodoxy had been clerics. This caused controversy among Orthodox (male) authorities. However, when icon painting became a popular hobby among Finnish Lutherans in the last quarter of the twentieth century, Orthodox women iconographers became the primary guardians of the Orthodox icon tradition. From their position outside church hierarchy, they were able to publicly defend theological convictions more firmly than bishops or priests.

Keywords: icon painters; icon painting; Orthodox Church; tradition; women

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 3