"In Praying with Icons beauty itself bears witness to God."-- Michael Downey "This book is a blessing, made extraordinarily graceful by icons, those who have honored and saved them in history, and by Jim Forest whose love for them is shared unabashedly."-- Megan McKenna "Just as iconographers, in the language of the art, 'write' an icon, Forest teaches us how to read one. In his hands icons become a lectio divina, a holy reading, of color. We will need a book such as this for a long, long time in this changing world." --Joan Chittister, OSB "Recent years have seen a marked increase in the popular and ecumenical appeal of icons (for centuries an integral feature of Orthodox Christianity). Jim Forest's Praying With Icons offers a simple introduction to the tradition of icons with special emphasis on their practical function in the spiritual life. Beautifully illustrated both with color plans and b/w photography, Praying With Icons begins with a history of iconography.

Icons are not simply illustrations or "art" in the usual sense, but aids to prayer and contemplation, windows on the divine. Forest also provides a personal and practical guide to how one prays with icons. Forest then concludes with a series of meditative reflections on some of the most typical icons, including the Annunciation, the Nativity, Christ's Baptism, the Transfiguration, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, representations of Mary, the trinity, and the Saints. Praying With Icons is a superlative introduction to icons and is highly recommended for readers seeking to expand their spiritual experience to encompass the entire Christian spiritual legacy. "--Midwest Book Review.