For those of you who see me around campus, I’m usually recognizable by my long, flowing hair, wired headphones, and most notably the wooden icon I hold while doing the sign of the Cross or listening to a Byzantine chant.
For those who are unfamiliar with what an icon is, it is not simply an image of Christ, the Theotokos, or a saint. It is a sacred image that signifies that person’s presence, but importantly, such an image is not worshipped as an idol.
The theological debate over the use of images goes back to the earliest days of the Church, as the worshiping of idols was strictly prohibited by the Ten Commandments. This debate came to a head in the 8th century when the Byzantine Emperor Leo III and his son Constantine V (both heretics) suppressed the use of iconography as a form of worship.
Some of the most beautiful depictions of Christian art were destroyed in this era of iconoclasm until the issue was finally resolved in the year 787 at the Council of Nicaea. The Seventh Ecumenical Council had two lasting influences, one positive and one negative.
The positive aspect was that the still-unified Church refuted the ideas of iconoclasm and restored the use of icons as a form of worship. The negative aspect was that, unfortunately, the Seventh Ecumenical Council was the last joint council before the Great Schism of East and West in 1054 AD. For over 1200 years, iconography has played an instrumental role in both the Eastern and Western Churches and thus has played an enormous role in my faith.
Just as Catholics take a Saint’s name when they are confirmed, Orthodox often have a baptismal name they receive. Since I am Greek Orthodox, my baptismal name is Demetrios (Δημήτριος), and whenever I receive the Eucharist, the Priest will state “Servant of God” and I will respond “Demetrios.” The icon that I carry around with me is of my patron saint, Demetrios, a Roman soldier in the 4th century who converted to Christianity and was martyred for refusing to renounce his faith.
I carry this icon around with me not as a sign that I’m “more religious than my peers,” but often because I will be praying for the intercession of St. Demetrios on my behalf outside of the St. Mary statue next to Bapst Library before going to class in the morning.
I ask for the strength, courage, and fortitude to seize the day in the manner of Christ, and ground myself, first and foremost, as a Christian.
Often if I’m praying, I will become distracted by the sounds and sights around me, but my St. Demetrios icon allows me to refocus on my Christian mission. That is why I became so distraught on Monday, February 5th, when I misplaced the icon.
I had been praying before the St. Thomas More Society’s weekly meeting in my usual spot. After attending a variety of clubs and a watch party for BC vs. Harvard in the Beanpot Semifinal, I went back to my room around 11:30 PM. As I prepared for night prayer, I realized that I no longer had my icon.
The buildings were closed, but I knew if I arrived early the next morning I might be able to find it. I prayed fervently that night for its return, but when I returned to the location the next morning, it was nowhere to be found. To say I was lost would be an understatement. My prayer life felt empty without my icon, and although I continued to pray to St. Phanourios and St. Anthony for intercession, I had begun to accept the reality that I had just lost my most prized possession.
My friends also continually prayed for its return, but I had all but given up hope. It was Friday, February 16th, when my friend Miles came up to me after class and said he was continuing to pray for me to find the icon, and suggested maybe I check the classroom one more time.
I figured I’d give it one more attempt, and upon searching the classroom, I found it had been stowed away in a cabinet. I was in awe. I had goosebumps. I had checked the exact location weeks prior, but now I found it on a random Friday, when I was deathly sick and had just gone through Week of Fire, a Sons of St. Patrick weeklong event dedicated to growing closer to God through 8 AM Mass, Fraternal activities, and Night talks/prayers. Even though I’m Orthodox, I took the Week to heart and truly grew closer to God. My constant prayers that week despite not having my icon, as well as the prayers of my friends, truly worked.
For twenty-two years I have grown in the Orthodox faith, attending Divine Liturgy every Sunday through high school, but not committing to the faith outside of the few hours every Sunday morning.
That changed when I joined the Sons of St. Patrick at Boston College. I learned the importance of growing your relationship with Christ outside of the Church setting and the importance of daily prayer and fasting. Prayers are not going to be answered immediately. Prayers to do well on a test you didn’t study for aren’t the point of prayer. One prays to grow closer to God and have the strength to become a better Christian man.
When I didn’t have my icon, I realized I shouldn’t be praying for its return, but instead for God to help me have the strength to use the setback as a way to deepen my faith. If I hadn’t lost my icon, I’m not sure if I would have taken as much of an active role in Week of Fire, because I might not have felt such a spiritual absence.
Prayer truly does work. This was my first experience with prayer physically working in a situation, in a similar manner to when you hear stories of people seeing Christ or the Virgin Mary after a difficult or dangerous situation, such as a car accident. My faith continues to grow every day, with or without my icon, but being icon-less for two weeks made me understand the importance of responsibility, humility, and praying for others, as my friends did for me.
Overall, my story of faith and the intercession of Saints in returning my icon is one story among thousands told by Christians across the globe. From my story, I hope one learns 1) the effectiveness of prayers, 2) the beauty of iconography, and 3) the importance of praying for others, even when there is no tangible reward for yourself, as my friends Miles, Emma, and countless others did for me. You’ll still see me walking around campus with my wooden icon and openly wearing my faith on my sleeve, but now I hold onto my icon just a little bit tighter.
James “Δημήτριος” Markis is a senior at Boston College studying History, Political Science, and Ancient Civilization. He is a Greek Orthodox Christian, offering a unique perspective from the East on faith, scripture, and liturgical practices. His interests include right-wing politics, Church Fathers, and refuting Protestant heresy. His hobbies include basketball, baseball, and trivia, with the occasional adventure into the arena of chess.
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