If you aren't already familiar with it, I highly recommend, "The King's Two Bodies: A Study in Medieval Political Theology," by Ernst Kantorowicz. Depending on how far into the weeds you want to get, of course :). First published in the late '50's, it essentially charts the progression from pure "divine rule" to a sacred/secular understanding of governance over the course of the Middle Ages. The second chapter is on Richard II through Shakespeare (which is why I thought of it while reading about the Wilton Diptych), and there's a chapter toward the end on how symbolic representations were increasingly incorporated into royal burial crypts, etc. A rich and thorough work you might find useful.
Wonderful stuff. Every square inch of those Orthodox churches is decorated or painted - quite amazing. I look forward to the deep dive. It will be great!
If you're in the US, there are a number of similarly adorned Orthodox churches here too. Obviously not nearly as venerable in age, but with a similar feeling of intimacy at being surrounded by the Saints. Bit easier to get to than Rhodes too, which is nice if (like me) you don't have the wherewithal to go overseas any time soon - parish churches and monasteries both.
Yes, quite a few. The PacNW has had quite a few immigrants, so you can find a number of Orthodox churches in the area - Russian (which come in OCA and ROCOR jurisdictions - long story there), Greek, and Antiochian (Antiochian are of Syrian / Lebanese extraction). Antiochian and OCA churches will almost always be exclusively in English, which makes them a bit easier to visit, while the Greek and ROCOR parishes tend to have a lot more Greek or Slavonic (but rarely exclusively so).
Did I ever share with you what I wrote about the Wilton Diptych one day on Facebook?
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE
WILTON DIPTYCH OF KING RICHARD II
This small painting from the 1390s is lushly and expensively creative with all the pricey blues and golds, especially in the repeated pattern of blue-tipped white angels' wings against the patterned gold background. Its portrayal of heavenly beauties is in great contrast with the left side of the diptych shown at the link below, which has a gold background but is otherwise stark, locating King Richard II perhaps in the Judean desert, [he is] being offered along with his country by his three favorite saints, St. John the Baptist, St. Edward the Confessor and St. Edmund, to the Madonna and Child
"This painting is on the right side of a diptych with the left side showing King Richard II offering England to the Virgin as her dowry in the shape of a standard. His hands are empty, as the infant Christ has taken the standard and passed it to an attendant angel. . . . The Virgin holds Christ’s foot for Richard to kiss . . .. Christ raises his hand to bless the standard and with it, Richard’s rule.—From the National Gallery in London
Christ raises his hand to bless the standard and with it, Richard’s rule. . . . We don’t know exactly how or where Richard used the diptych, but it might have been placed on the altar of a small chapel in Westminster Abbey – used by Richard for private prayer – or in that of the Order of the Garter at Windsor. He may have carried it from one chapel to another. He might even have had it with him when he was captured by the troops of his cousin, the future Henry IV, in 1399. He was forced to abdicate and then imprisoned by the new king, and later starved to death at Pontefract Castle, in West Yorkshire.—From the National Gallery in London https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/english-or-french-the-wilton-diptych
Great Goodie bag!
If you aren't already familiar with it, I highly recommend, "The King's Two Bodies: A Study in Medieval Political Theology," by Ernst Kantorowicz. Depending on how far into the weeds you want to get, of course :). First published in the late '50's, it essentially charts the progression from pure "divine rule" to a sacred/secular understanding of governance over the course of the Middle Ages. The second chapter is on Richard II through Shakespeare (which is why I thought of it while reading about the Wilton Diptych), and there's a chapter toward the end on how symbolic representations were increasingly incorporated into royal burial crypts, etc. A rich and thorough work you might find useful.
Wonderful stuff. Every square inch of those Orthodox churches is decorated or painted - quite amazing. I look forward to the deep dive. It will be great!
If you're in the US, there are a number of similarly adorned Orthodox churches here too. Obviously not nearly as venerable in age, but with a similar feeling of intimacy at being surrounded by the Saints. Bit easier to get to than Rhodes too, which is nice if (like me) you don't have the wherewithal to go overseas any time soon - parish churches and monasteries both.
I live in the Pacific NW - anything remotely nearby?
Yes, quite a few. The PacNW has had quite a few immigrants, so you can find a number of Orthodox churches in the area - Russian (which come in OCA and ROCOR jurisdictions - long story there), Greek, and Antiochian (Antiochian are of Syrian / Lebanese extraction). Antiochian and OCA churches will almost always be exclusively in English, which makes them a bit easier to visit, while the Greek and ROCOR parishes tend to have a lot more Greek or Slavonic (but rarely exclusively so).
The Antiochian churches can be found here: https://www.antiochian.org/parishes
Greek parishes here: https://www.goarch.org/parishes
OCA parishes here: https://www.oca.org/parishes/state/WA
On Vashon Island there is The All-Merciful Savior Monastery.
https://www.wadiocese.com/vashon_island
Thank you!
Did I ever share with you what I wrote about the Wilton Diptych one day on Facebook?
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE
WILTON DIPTYCH OF KING RICHARD II
This small painting from the 1390s is lushly and expensively creative with all the pricey blues and golds, especially in the repeated pattern of blue-tipped white angels' wings against the patterned gold background. Its portrayal of heavenly beauties is in great contrast with the left side of the diptych shown at the link below, which has a gold background but is otherwise stark, locating King Richard II perhaps in the Judean desert, [he is] being offered along with his country by his three favorite saints, St. John the Baptist, St. Edward the Confessor and St. Edmund, to the Madonna and Child
"This painting is on the right side of a diptych with the left side showing King Richard II offering England to the Virgin as her dowry in the shape of a standard. His hands are empty, as the infant Christ has taken the standard and passed it to an attendant angel. . . . The Virgin holds Christ’s foot for Richard to kiss . . .. Christ raises his hand to bless the standard and with it, Richard’s rule.—From the National Gallery in London
Christ raises his hand to bless the standard and with it, Richard’s rule. . . . We don’t know exactly how or where Richard used the diptych, but it might have been placed on the altar of a small chapel in Westminster Abbey – used by Richard for private prayer – or in that of the Order of the Garter at Windsor. He may have carried it from one chapel to another. He might even have had it with him when he was captured by the troops of his cousin, the future Henry IV, in 1399. He was forced to abdicate and then imprisoned by the new king, and later starved to death at Pontefract Castle, in West Yorkshire.—From the National Gallery in London https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/english-or-french-the-wilton-diptych