The Trinity by Andrei Rublev is undoubtedly the most famous Russian icon. Its reproductions can be found in various churches all over the world, not only in Orthodox churches but also in Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopalian. Even if an intelligent person is not interested in icon painting, he or she knows The Trinity. What is…
Continue readingNeptic Spaces and the Chants of Cappadocian Lepers
Lecture by Cornelia Tsakiridou Part of the conference “The Shape of the Sacred: Eastern Christianity and Architectural Modernity,” held at Fordham University, May 30 – June 1, 2023 Part of panel session 1, “Sacred Space,” moderated by Dr. Peter Bouteneff
Continue readingWoman of Peace, Temple of War
by Matthew J. Milliner The Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces was sprinkled with holy water by Patriarch Kirill in 2020, but that does not mean it is holy. It has forsaken the elegant curves of a traditional Russian dome to deliberately resemble nuclear missiles (which Russian priests have cheerily blessed). The classic two-dimensional…
Continue readingEncountering the Mandylion Icon of Christ
“The indescribable glory of His face was changing through grace”—Menaion for August. Since the feast-day of the Mandylion Ikon of Christ, memories of encountering it have been galvanizing my prayer, recalling an extraordinary encounter meeting it on pilgrimage many years ago. The Mandylion Icon “Not Made by Hands” occupies a central place among Orthodox images…
Continue readingBulgakov’s Theological Defense of Western Religious Art
An Orthodox Minority Report
by Roberto J. De La Noval | български | ქართული | ελληνικά | Română | Русский | Српски “Since the time of the Renaissance, the religious painting of the West has been one massive untruth.” So wrote Fr. Pavel Florensky in his Iconostasis, one of the most important works of 20th century Orthodox iconology. The…
Continue readingVenerating the Transfiguration Every Day
You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God,revealing Your glory to Your disciples as far as they could bear it. Let Your everlasting Light also shine upon us sinners.Through the prayers of the Theotokos,O Giver of Light, glory to You! (Troparion for Transfiguration—Tone 7) During my Seminary days, walking into Chapel meant walking by,…
Continue readingWhen Icons Make You Sick
Religious Materiality in Post-Chernobyl Contamination
by Elena Romashko | ελληνικά | Română | српски The publication of this essay coincides with the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Saturday, April 26, 1986. In March 2020, we were asked to work from home because of the pandemic of coronavirus. We could not even imagine how quickly the situation would escalate to a…
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