Toward a question of catholic icon theology: dynamics in comprehending the meaning of sacred art

The article poses the question: how does modern Catholic theology build an understanding and definition of the role of iconography? The presented formulation reflects the discussion that the attitude to iconography in Eastern and Western theology throughout Christian history was determined by different cultural and dogmatic prerequisites. In modern Catholic theology, the icon occupies an important, but not central, place. This situation is related to the historical and cultural context and was enshrined in the decrees of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). However, in modern Catholic theology there are different opinions regarding the issues of the image of Jesus Christ, the images of saints and scenes from the Holy Scriptures. On the one hand, there is a position with a positive attitude towards the sensory perception of the image. On the other hand, there is a tendency towards understanding the spiritual role of icon veneration in the life of a believer, close to the Eastern tradition of the Orthodox Church. The article examines the features of the theological understanding of sacred art in Western Latin tradition, as well as theoretical aspects of the perception of iconographic images based on official documents of the Roman Catholic Church. This approach allows us to identify the main didactic and memoristic aspects of the perception of iconographic images. According to this concept, sacred art is not only a way of shaping the visual perception of a saint, but also a way of strengthening religious piety, and, through its impact on memory, of encouraging a person to meditate about spiritual world.