Inessa Safronova. The Red Angels. 1997

The Red Angels

Inessa Safronova

1997

There’s Still More 12th Century New Roman Mosaics of the Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova di Monreale. Monreale (Sicily) ITALY. 12th century

St Lawrence of Rome

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St John the Theologian

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Seraphim

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St Noe and the Ark

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Mother of God

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Mother of God Enthroned

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From the Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova di Monreale in Monreale (Province of Palermo. Sicilia Autonomous Region) ITALY.

Mikhail Nesterov. Golgotha. 1899

Golgotha

Mikhail Nesterov

1899

Mikhail Nesterov. The Most Holy Mother of God of Tenderness. 1909

The Most Holy Mother of God of Tenderness

Mikhail Nesterov

1909

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This is an example of the iconography executed by the great artist Mikhail Nesterov for the Marfa-Mariinskoye Obitel (Martha and Mary Convent) in Moscow. He also designed the habits of the sisterhood. Of course, it is not in the “approved” “Byzantine” style. Oh, dear! Let’s all shudder together in unison! No doubt, my faithful readers know my opinion on “Byzantine” iconography! Well… it hasn’t changed one whit since the last time! I remember a recent Anglo-Saxon convert excoriating me for using “Mother of God” instead of “Theotokos” and for championing “Western” icons. Firstly, we do NOT say “Theotokos” in Russian, we say “Bogoroditse” (She who bore God, the Godbearer). We also say… GASP! …”Bogomater” (Mother of God). Therefore, in English, “Mother of God” or “Godbearer” do quite nicely. As for “Theotokos”, that is an precious affectation best discarded. As for the complaint against “Western” icons, it was made by a person ignorant of Russian art history, so, as a Christian, I must extend forgiveness (to the person, not to the idea… that’s still absurd!). If Grand Princess St Yelizaveta Fyodrovna the New Martyr approved of Nesterov’s take on iconography, so do I! I do daresay that the blood of a martyr outweighs all the pseudo-scholarship from the usual cast of suspects.

BMD