Iconography and Sacred Art

Is it ok to post a story on 'sacred art' that is modern?

Here are a couple of stories on the angel paintings of a Polish priest at my parish...he is very talented...

http://www.examiner.com/x-9052-Orlan...tching-over-us

http://www.examiner.com/x-9052-Orlan...perhero-angels

Has anyone seen any art with a religious theme? Share it!

Hello everyone! I'm excited about joining this group and happy to see that it is still so "young." (Founded on the eve of All Saints Day).
I agree, Sunflower, that we Catholics (East and West) convey religious truths using our senses to point toward the spiritual reality that is taking place. And how could it be otherwise? God did the very same thing when he sent his Son to become our Savior by becoming one of us. Catholicism truly is an "incarnational" religion, and I agree with you, I don't think I could be anything else--thanks be to God!

Yes, it seems that both Orthodox and Catholics convey religious truths in both verbal and visual form...for us just one or the other is not enough...
In fact, we both use all of our senses...incense, music, icons, stained glass windows [to show light through those people], quiet and vocal prayer, Eucharist & consecrated wine - all of our senses join in the experience of the Liturgy...we even used to shake hands, kiss or embrace to give peace [until the swine flu thing ]

I couldn't be anything else, I don't think...

Sunflower,

Yes, I just went over to your Examiner.com articles to read the one on the Christ icon — thank you. I had read one in the series before, but not that one. I am John who left the comments.

And yes, the St. Leo Abbey church crucifix is patterned after the Shroud of Turin. When the 11-ton crucifix was carved in the late 1940s, the crucifix was installed in the church in 1948, St. Leo Abbey, Florida, reported that the crucifix was the largest crucifix based on the Shroud. I do not know whether it is still the largest such carved copy.

Amazing is the word that comes to mind as I sit in the church viewing the crucifix at the St. Leo Abbey. It is a holy place.

Learning the reality represented in the symbols has been one of the most enjoyable and unexpected benefits of becoming a Catholic. I am in awe.

Thanks, Sunflower for starting this Social Group.

Btw, Barzillai, did you read the story on the Icon of the Christ for the explanation of the symbols of His blessing hidden in the gestures of His hand?

It's in the same link I just provided about the books/scrolls...these things were obvious to Christians in previous centuries, but many of us are clueless until we do some research...

Wow, Barzillai! Isn't this the Jesus that was carved following the image of the shroud of Turin? I had read about a very large one following the image impressed on the shroud...is this the one? That would be amazing!
I also noticed St. Cecilia, pointing to God with a hand and making the traditional symbols with the other. If we only learned to see the signs that are left for us everywhere! It's just that it takes contemplation, education, prayer, fellowship, and stillness in the silence to hear God's quiet voice within us!
Pax Christi everyone!
Maria

ps~ another link to another story explaining icons...especially on the meaning of books/scrolls...
http://www.examiner.com/x-9052-Orlan...Icon-of-Christ

And, an interesting fraternal embrace between brothers Sts. Peter & Andrew, the first called by Jesus...and a modern version of their successors...

http://www.examiner.com/x-9052-Orlan...e-Nicene-Creed

How wonderful that the Holy Spirit wanted this thread created on that particular day! I'm SO happy about that!

The Pieta is one of my favorites. It is useful for meditation on the Sorrowful Mysteries.

Barzillai, I found your photo and discovery interesting. One must look very closely.

At work so I will have to post later but hello all!

This group was created the day I was on a spiritual retreat at a monastery. While sitting in the abbey church as I have done many, many times, I realized that Jesus’ hands on the 11-ton carved marble crucifix were symbols. The meaning of the right hand seemed clear, but the left hand was not as clear to me, in fact I wondered if it was a symbol at all — but decided that it too must be a well-recognized symbol.

After Mass, I took a picture of the crucifix and hoped to ask someone about the hand symbols on the crucifix.

When I got back home, I discovered this new Group and that it was created by the creative and helpful Sunflower15.

So, what do the hands represent on the crucifix? Here is the picture of the 11-ton crucifix -- slow downloading because I kept it very large.

Interestingly, a couple of months ago I did some study of St. Cecilia, the second or third century martyr. Her famous 17th century sculptured body as it was found in a tomb is shown in the picture below and is in nave of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome, Italy. I think the images of St. Cecilia’s hands stayed in my mind and when I was looking at the crucifix in the abbey church, I finally realized what I was seeing. Here is the source of the picture below in larger detail.

I'll begin by posting a link to a story I recently published online explaining some basics of Orthodox Iconography using an icon of the Mother and Child as example.

http://www.examiner.com/x-9052-Orlan...and-Child-Icon