An icon is a holy event or person that is written in image, therefore an icon is considered written and not painted. They are created in accordance to the specific rules of church canon. Icons are historically rendered in tempera on panels that are prepared with great care. Icons should not be signed but if it is a necessity, it is simply stated on the back of the panel," by the hand of”, and signed by the artist. A person who writes icons is an Iconographer. The act of writing icons is Iconography and people who are opposed to icons are called iconoclastic, (image breakers). This has more to do with eastern and western church philosophy than individual love for sacred imagery. The purpose of an icon is to assist in prayer. An icon should only be prayed through and never to. These are some of the facts of icons but the truth of icons live within a collective and individual desire for deep spiritual transcendence.