These days, discussions are ongoing about OpenAI allowing users to recreate images in the iconic style of Studio Ghibli. I find this deeply disrespectful to the art of creation itself and the dedication poured into it by artists. Art is not just aesthetics; it is a deeply human act of faith, devotion, and struggle—something that cannot be automated.
Similarly, I recently noticed some churches using AI-generated images within their altar. AI-generated images introduce artificiality into worship, lacking the depth and sanctity of true sacred art.
In the Orthodox Church, icons, murals, and carvings or any sacred art form within the church—especially in the altar—are to be created by human hands. This is not a mere tradition but a theological- liturgical necessity. As Exodus 31:2-3 recounts, God called Bezalel to create sacred art through human craftsmanship. But why insist on human craftsmanship? Human craftsmanship is essential because it reflects the very nature of our creation. As being made in the image and likeness of God, the creator. This creative capacity is not just a skill, it is the reflection of the divine image within us. Human craftsmanship in sacred art honours this divine gift of creativity. Fathers like John of Damascus and Theodore the Studite emphasized that icons are not mere images but spiritual windows, crafted with prayer. I remember my teacher once telling me to consider each brushstroke as a prayer.
AI-generated images, in contrast, are mechanical products devoid of spiritual intention or grace. They disrupt the sacred continuity of Orthodox tradition, reducing sacred art to mere data manipulation. The rise of AI in art risks stripping away the human effort, reducing creativity to mere data processing. This is not just about preserving tradition, it is about protecting what it means to be human.
While technology, like AI, can serve a purpose, it can never replace the real, lived experience of faith. Likewise, AI-generated images should never replace prayerfully created sacred art. The Church, as body of Christ, should be the last place where artificiality replaces authenticity.
Fr. Rijo Geevarghese
Diocese of Ahmedabad
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