The formative power of sacred art: personal development through glass icon painting in lower secondary education

Abstract

Abstract. Personal development constitutes an essential component of contemporary education, aiming at the balanced cultivation of students' personalities and the strengthening of their cultural identity. The present study proposes the integration of Romanian sacred art into the discipline of Visual Arts Education as an instrument of personal formation, through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together visual education, religious education, and ethno-folkloric heritage. The research underscores the formative value of reverse-painted glass icons, hearth icons, and the pristolnic, examined from artistic, pedagogical, and symbolic perspectives. Engagement with artistic and spiritual heritage supports the development of aesthetic sensitivity, creativity, the capacity to decode symbols, respect for cultural heritage, as well as self-awareness and emotional stability. The findings indicate that the inclusion of sacred art in Visual Arts Education enriches the repertoire of teaching strategies, contributes to the development of curriculum-based key competencies, and stimulates transdisciplinary learning.