The book is devoted to the analysis of the reasons for different understandings of the essence and purpose of cult images in the Christian tradition. Understanding the essence of the image is analyzed in the context of general ideas about church symbols and in the light of the teachings about the Church in Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The peculiarities of the attitude towards images are derived from an understanding of the nature of the church symbol, associated in each of the confessions with an understanding of the essence and purpose of the Church itself. The book is addressed to specialists in the field of religious studies and cultural studies, teachers and students of humanities universities, as well as everyone interested in this topic. The author expresses special thanks and gratitude to Tulpa Irina Alexandrovna for her help and support in working on the monograph.