I read something last night that is really sticking with me today. When we pray, even simply, “Lord, remember…” and invoke someone by name, all is fulfilled. For in that moment we have done what all of creation is purposed to do: the one praying, the one prayed for, and God have all been brought near.There is nothing else.
Amen!
ReplyDeleteIt's an unusual icon, in that it depicts the Father. Where is it from?
May the completion of the 40 days be to your edification, as we come to Holy Week and Pascha!
The Divine Liturgy by Michael Damaskinos
ReplyDeleteIn this icon dating from 1579-1584 Damaskinos presents his theme in a somewhat Westernized iconographic interpretation. The Father and the Son are surrounded by seraphim; between them, the altar is draped with a gilded cloth; above them, the Holy Spirit appears as a dove. Encircling angels are present for the Divine Liturgy.
This is, of course, not strictly in the Orthodox tradition, which never depicts the Father in human form (since He has no human form and is not depicted in the scriptures as having the form of man). Western artistic concepts affect even Byzantine Orthodox iconography, as we know, and the principle of oikonomía is likewise exercised by the faithful, who venerate an ikon even when it is not fully canonical in expression.