A distinguishing feature of Orthodox Christianity is that it communicates its theology by visual and other sensorial modes. Whenever someone enters an Orthodox church, she finds herself surrounded by images of Christ, the Theotokos, and an impressive number of saintly figures. Even images of the local bishop or important donors may be present. Icons often serve as a starting point for explaining Orthodoxy to other Christians or nonbelievers. Their function is more than that of illustrating the life of Christ and the
saints. They are gates to heaven and depictions of our ultimate eschatological goal: union with God or deification. The gold surrounding the heads of the saints and their translucent, almost diaphanous, bodies are meant to represent the light of their eschatological communion with God.