Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

This is the word of the Lord. Amen.

Take a look at this painting.

This is one of the most famous icons in church history,

traced back to Andre Rublev in the 15th century, a Russian painter.

It's commonly known as the Trinity today.

But this isn't technically a painting.

It's an icon, meaning it's a work of art meant to be hung in the walls of the church,

not the walls of a gallery, and it's for the purpose of prayer, not for the primary purpose of beauty.

What makes this an icon and not just a painting?

Do you know?

What defines an ancient work of art as iconic?

Well, it's actually all about the intent of the artist.

Historically, icons were paintings created not to be looked at, so much as to be looked through.

They point to something beyond themselves.

If you were to gaze at this icon for a moment,

you would probably immediately notice the father, son, and spirit,

seated together at the table, enjoying one another's company.

But gaze a bit longer, and maybe you'll see that in the background,

there's a house, a tree, and a mountain.

Abraham's house, the Oak of Mamre, and Mount Mariah. It's a depiction of an Old

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