"Though it’s far from universal, the Orthodox often don’t seem to like us Latins very much, and you can often get some pretty hostile reactions from them in places like Facebook iconography pages. I’ve learned to tread very carefully. "
Sadly, there are a lot of really REALLY testy Orthodox online. It's not just you - some are unnecessarily rude and combative practically everywhere. We do ourselves no favors with that.
Great post, Hilary - as always. So wonderful to see the nuns again. It is balm to my heart to see traditional habits and the shining faces of brides of Our Lord.
"I’d found that mere intellectual assent to doctrine - that is often touted as the beginning and end of Faith in the west since Trent bureaucratised everything - was a kind of path to spiritual starvation."
Ditto!!!
Christianity is far more weird and dangerous than mere intellectual assent. A high school theology teacher once told me that faith is "courage in the context of a relationship." This is far more edgy and dangerous than memorizing theological propositions.
But how do I encounter this "other" whom I am called to enter into relationship with?
Sacred Art is a key component. Understanding the visual expressions of the Sacred is wonderful. It opens up avenues for contemplation that I never knew existed. Indeed, I had little idea of what contemplation is until I encountered expressions of the truly Sacred.
I’m so excited to find you on Substack. I’m a playwright and a neophyte to iconography. I have only been able to take classes from an instructor who paints in acrylic in order to make her classes more affordable. However, I have come to have a deep appreciation for iconography and the visual patrimony we have as Christians which has almost been forgotten.
I’m deeply impressed by the spiritual paintings/visions of St. Hildegard von Bingen. In contemplating her vision of creation I gained a new insight. The first day of creation is a small inset depicting angels. Pondering this, I realized that the first day of Creation was not about the material realm but rather the angelic. God created the angels and after that first instance when they came into being fully comprehending what their nature and assigned task was including who God was in his totality they had to decide whether or not to serve him or rebel. When they made their choice God separated the light from the darkness. Those who chose to serve Him were immediately admitted into the Beatific Vision. Those who rebelled were sentenced to damnation and confirmed in their opposition towards God.
This understanding of the first day makes so much more sense. I learned later that St. Augustine taught this understanding.
This insight caused me to realize there is so much more to unpack from our patrimony in the visual record. I’m grateful to have access to the teaching of some Byzantine Catholic Priests. They are far more familiar with the Church Fathers.
If you are interested in another resource you can check out The Institute of Catholic Culture. All their courses and live webinars are free.
"Though it’s far from universal, the Orthodox often don’t seem to like us Latins very much, and you can often get some pretty hostile reactions from them in places like Facebook iconography pages. I’ve learned to tread very carefully. "
Sadly, there are a lot of really REALLY testy Orthodox online. It's not just you - some are unnecessarily rude and combative practically everywhere. We do ourselves no favors with that.
Great post, Hilary - as always. So wonderful to see the nuns again. It is balm to my heart to see traditional habits and the shining faces of brides of Our Lord.
"I’d found that mere intellectual assent to doctrine - that is often touted as the beginning and end of Faith in the west since Trent bureaucratised everything - was a kind of path to spiritual starvation."
Ditto!!!
Christianity is far more weird and dangerous than mere intellectual assent. A high school theology teacher once told me that faith is "courage in the context of a relationship." This is far more edgy and dangerous than memorizing theological propositions.
But how do I encounter this "other" whom I am called to enter into relationship with?
Sacred Art is a key component. Understanding the visual expressions of the Sacred is wonderful. It opens up avenues for contemplation that I never knew existed. Indeed, I had little idea of what contemplation is until I encountered expressions of the truly Sacred.
Felt banners or Sacred Art?
Modern realism or icons?
"Gather us in" or Gregorian chant?
"So I come at it from a bit of a unique and slightly odd angle, rather different from the one most people come from; I’m not an academic."
Not being an academic truly makes your posts easier to read and comprehend!
Agree!
I’m so excited to find you on Substack. I’m a playwright and a neophyte to iconography. I have only been able to take classes from an instructor who paints in acrylic in order to make her classes more affordable. However, I have come to have a deep appreciation for iconography and the visual patrimony we have as Christians which has almost been forgotten.
I’m deeply impressed by the spiritual paintings/visions of St. Hildegard von Bingen. In contemplating her vision of creation I gained a new insight. The first day of creation is a small inset depicting angels. Pondering this, I realized that the first day of Creation was not about the material realm but rather the angelic. God created the angels and after that first instance when they came into being fully comprehending what their nature and assigned task was including who God was in his totality they had to decide whether or not to serve him or rebel. When they made their choice God separated the light from the darkness. Those who chose to serve Him were immediately admitted into the Beatific Vision. Those who rebelled were sentenced to damnation and confirmed in their opposition towards God.
This understanding of the first day makes so much more sense. I learned later that St. Augustine taught this understanding.
This insight caused me to realize there is so much more to unpack from our patrimony in the visual record. I’m grateful to have access to the teaching of some Byzantine Catholic Priests. They are far more familiar with the Church Fathers.
If you are interested in another resource you can check out The Institute of Catholic Culture. All their courses and live webinars are free.
Thank you SO much for these resources! This is incredibly helpful!