Dear Br. Colin,
Just a brief history tidbit: Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev decided in 988 that Russia shall be baptised as a Christian Nation. This decision was based upon the findings of a delegation whom he had sent to Constantinople, which was the heart of the Byzantine Empire. So yes, the Greek Orthodox Church is related to the Russian Orthodox Church. Now, in my own words: The Russian heart, soul and spirit has nurtured a most wonderful tree of Orthodoxy that bears such beautiful flowers and rich fruit.
The Holy Spirit that dwells in secret "within and behind" the Icon, is venerated and praised, not the person depicted. He/she who is depicted is the Saint whose life is one of the many role models for the Orthodox Christians. The Lives of the Saints is a book which many Orthodox read every day(every day there is another Saint to read about), to receive inspiration on how to live a "right life". Of course, we have the Christ Icon, Cross Icon, Theotokos Icon(Mother of the God/Man Jesus).
For example: Mother Theresa of Calcutta is a role model because she gave her life to help those who were poorer than dirt in India. Yes, I can go on............"The One who comes after me I am not worthy to tie His sandals". When babies are baptised and chrismated(signed over to Christ), they are usually named after a Patron Saint and then given an Icon depicting the Patron Saint(whose name is in the Lives of the Saints). So yes, tradition is passed from generation to generation to generation and so on.............
Iconography is the actual "writing of the Icon" - Icons are not painted but written! Yes, the wellspring that inspires Tavener to compose inspires also Iconographers to continue writing Icons. The same Saint written by the same Iconographer will be different in every successive Icon, each one more beautiful than the other. My wife and I personally know two ladies, whose work as Iconographers just takes ones breath away. In short, Greek or Russian is the ethnic denominator appended onto "Orthodox Church". Btw, the Greeks can use the organ to accompany a Divine Liturgy - For the Russians it is a No-No! The reason being that the musical instrument distracts the mind from Whom is being worshipped. One of the end results is that the Choral Instrument as developed in Russia is of such exquisiteness.
