Translated into English, this is Pavel Florensky's final theological work. Composed in 1922, it explores the significance of the icon: its philosophic depth, its spiritual history, and its empirical technique. The volume also sketches an alternative history of both Western religious art and the Orthodox icon - a history under the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. An introductory essay included in the book covers Florensky's life and work in a historical and religious context.