Keywords
Sacred Symbol
Transcendence
Color Semiotics
Religious Contemporaneity
Sacred Semantics
Post-secular Society
Cultural Heritage
Sustainability
Ontology of the Sacred
Interdisciplinary Dialogue
How to Cite
Abstract
The icon, as a mediator between humanity and the transcendent, occupies a unique position at the crossroads of metaphysics, aesthetics, and cultural memory. Its symbolic language-particularly the semiotics of color-offers a framework through which spiritual truths are made visible and embodied in material form. This article explores the ethical significance of icons within the paradigm of sustainable development, where sacred symbolism intersects with ecological responsibility, cultural resilience, and the search for harmonious coexistence. Alongside theoretical reflection, the study also includes an empirical exploration conducted among young people, emphasizing how contemporary perceptions of icons continue to shape values essential for sustainable futures. In this sense, the icon emerges not only as a theological and aesthetic artifact, but also as a dynamic resource for rethinking humanity’s ethical orientation in an age of global transformation.
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