Vladimir Tretyakov. Liturgy for the Little Ones. 2009

Liturgy for the Little Ones (Vladimir Tretyakov, 2009)

The scene depicted is at a chapel attached to a works site in Russia. The children are from the works kindergarten, which, in Russia, is something of a combination day-care centre and early-grades school for kids up to seven years of age (when they go to regular school). Although all concerned know that there is a great deal of work to be still done in the restoration of the Church, a goodly amount has been done already, as this photo indicates. In other words, a very good start has been made, all that remains is for us to keep it up! Also, it indicates how deeply Orthodox Russia is at base, in obvious contradiction to America, which is deeply secular at its heart (as a society, I am not speaking of individuals here). The Church in Russia does not need any help from us in America. Indeed, WE need their assistance in putting things right. Shall we have the humility and wisdom to do so? One hopes so… may we not let crack-brained pseudo-intellectual notions such as “autocephaly” stop us.

Konstantin Zvezdochetov. Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! no date (2000s?)

Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! (Konstantin Zvezdochetov, no date (2000s?))

This work is indicitive of the creative synthesis taking part in Russia today. Russians are not merely rejecting Communism, rather, they are taking what was good from the Soviet period and combining it with the best of the Tsarist and Old Russian traditions. In short, it is not merely a slavish imitation of American-style “democracy” (which has disappointed many in the West), but, it is a unique construct suited to the particular history, culture, and weltanshauung of Russia. That is to say, it stands in opposition to many of the accepted verities of “modernity”… thank God for that!

Dmitri Slepushkin. A Molieben Before the Battle. 1994

A Molieben Before the Battle (Dmitri Slepushkin, 1994)

We are back, and I wished to start out with something both stirring and reverent. This, I believe, fills the bill admirably. I read once where someone was doubting the understanding of “illiterate peasants”. However, Orthodoxy is not an intellectual exercise, as so much of heterodoxy is. Indeed, I would say that any one of these simple rankers depicted in this painting had a better grasp of the faith and what it entailed than so many contemporary sorts who are puffed up by their unguided reading. Ye must become as a little child… now, THAT is the Orthodox way!  

Olga Dolgaya. Ilya Muromets and Prince Vladimir. 1998

Ilya Muromets and Prince Vladimir (Olga Dolgaya, 1998).

Olga Dolgaya. A Young Woman in White. 1998

A Young Woman in White (Olga Dolgaya, 1998).

Olga Dolgaya. A Sorrowful Reverie. 1998

A Sorrowful Reverie (Olga Dolgaya, 1998).

Olga Dolgaya. A Girl with a Basket. 1998

A Girl with a Basket (Olga Dolgaya, 1998).

Olga Dolgaya. A Young Woman in a Headscarf. 1999

A Young Woman in a Headscarf (Olga Dolgaya, 1999)

Olga Dolgaya. A Still-Life with a Reflection. 1999

A Still-Life with a Reflection (Olga Dolgaya, 1999)

Olga Dolgaya. A Table Set for Tea. 2000

A Table Set for Tea (Olga Dolgaya, 2000)