https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog daily 0.75 2025-01-27 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/abundant-life-pastor-angelika-beer monthly 0.5 2025-01-27 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/christmas-morning-the-true-centre-of-the-world monthly 0.5 2024-12-26 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/wjmqv5t5f7lil4owmqp2rvw9950w48 monthly 0.5 2024-12-26 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/three-weeks-in-japan-with-uspg monthly 0.5 2024-08-15 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/treasure-in-clay-jars-a-sermon-for-the-first-sunday-after-trinity-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/bucharest-revisited monthly 0.5 2024-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1715239787521-QF8IYJXHEVLZKJZM2CW8/HW+church.jpg Blog - Bucharest Revisited https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1715240060769-N86TK3ZEH81WM8V4DVC2/HW+Patriarchate.JPG Blog - Bucharest Revisited https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1715239956010-SK5RJSSKGANHF5BFY0UC/DSC_6112.JPG Blog - Bucharest Revisited https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1715239915671-F2SL4A2JPEGVWR632O2F/DSC_6080.JPG Blog - Bucharest Revisited https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1715240003036-X2MDB3CZWXRH2Y5XSKMG/meeting+with+varlaam.JPG Blog - Bucharest Revisited https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1715239936078-PQ1JX8C4TIO5Z97B6IJC/DSC_6089.JPG Blog - Bucharest Revisited https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/cantemir-300-years-on monthly 0.5 2023-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/c14146bc-2581-4ee8-aa68-043a893b9200/cantemir2.jpg Blog - Dimitrie Cantemir: 300 years on - On my recent visit to Iasi, I came across the grave of Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723) at the Three Hierarchs Monastery, and noted that this year marks the three hundredth anniversary of his death. He was a remarkable man, one of the great humanist polymaths, whose work spans the realms of language, philosophy, literature, history and music. He was Prince of Moldavia for two short periods: for April-March 1693 and from 1710-1711. He was born in Moldavia, but spent a large part of his life in Istanbul, firstly as a ‘pledge’ to guarantee the loyalty of his princely father the the Sultan, and then as the diplomatic envoy of his brother, who also reigned as Prince. This long association with Ottoman culture shaped his interests and writings - producing a history of the Ottoman Empire and also a work (written in Turkish) on Ottoman music. (You can here some of his music here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBS_CbHFGk0) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/a7f33c3e-1a7e-4180-ad72-bacaad20809d/cantemir1.jpg Blog - Dimitrie Cantemir: 300 years on - As a historian, writing both about the Ottoman Empire (which interestingly was translated into English shortly after his death) and about the Romanian people, he had a strong sense of the existing order as established by divine reason and of history directed by God’s providence. Despite his wide-ranging, humanist interests, Cantemir was an Orthodox Christian. Much of his philosophical writing discusses the nature of the intellect and the role of reason, originating in God. And for a man who had such a broad education, he was clear that fundamental for children’s education was to ‘settle them on the rock of knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.’ One of the last works he wrote, left unfinished with his death, was a catechism in Russian and Turkish. These questions and answers are designed to show the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and Cantemir’s catechism asks, “Q: Who are you? A: By the grace of God, I am a man. Q: Who is man? A: Man is the most perfect creation of the almighty God made in his image and likeness and among all the remaining living beings only man is adorned with reason and speech...’ This shows Dimitrie Cantemir’s profound trust in the goodness and providence of God, and his conviction that human reason is a great gift that, in all our endeavours, should be put to the service of God. In this three hundredth anniversary of Cantemir’s death, let us follow his good example of learning and discern the signs of God at work in the world. https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/monuments-to-a-stolen-revolution monthly 0.5 2023-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1692954150759-ALRCOWQ2YZVR08XJTN47/thumbnail_IMG_1800.jpg Blog - Monuments to a Stolen Revolution https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1692954157003-NFW2KRYG25VRODFSTHVL/thumbnail_IMG_1801.jpg Blog - Monuments to a Stolen Revolution https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/the-beauty-of-holiness-reflecting-on-orthodox-worship monthly 0.5 2023-07-06 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/a-new-project-supporting-a-ukrainian-daycare-centre-in-bucharest monthly 0.5 2023-06-18 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/the-resurrection-painting monthly 0.5 2023-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/ba8f0716-b585-4eed-8907-886201b0420c/Resurrection+%282%29.jpg Blog - The Resurrection Painting - The feast of Pentecost, which we celebrated on Sunday, brings an end to the days of Easter - but the Resurrection is at the very heart of our lives no matter the season. We are reminded of this every time we gather for our worship in our church dedicated to the Resurrection, and by the painting that hangs above the altar. It was painted by the diplomat and artist, Arthur Victor Coverley-Price and dedicated on Easter Day in 1934. The artist had a near-death experience on an expedition through the Peruvian Andes in 1932, and so it is perhaps no coincidence that the theme of the Resurrection was clearly of great significance to him. The painting depicts the scene in John 20. 1-7, where John and Peter run to the tomb after Mary Magdalene reports the news of the resurrection. The Gospel tells us that John outran Peter, and so got to the tomb first, peering in as Peter catches up. The details below show John at the tomb, Peter striding along the road, and the glorious rising sun of the first Easter morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1685618224102-OJ58F8EK7MN5LUQMZIUU/St+John.jpg Blog - The Resurrection Painting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1685618244092-69BYOKQNLKDNF02G23QS/St+Peter.jpg Blog - The Resurrection Painting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1685618262539-G21YBNMZGQS966UXFF3S/Easter+light.jpg Blog - The Resurrection Painting https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/all-shall-be-well-650-years-since-julian-of-norwichs-revelations monthly 0.5 2023-05-12 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/art-the-greatest-art-is-to-see-things-as-god-sees-them-biblical-scenes-in-the-drawings-of-bl-vladimir-ghika monthly 0.5 2023-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062725741-GWSTRDVHD1K57UJXPR99/Ghika+-+Annunciation+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062732502-UT54CGQ3K8VRTJL3WG5V/Ghika+-+Crucifixion+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062758893-36WPM6VPGUDN4OWNLTYP/Ghika+-+Walking+on+water+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062754108-2YK4XVYT2S8ZK2F7BXV3/Ghika+-+Mary+washing+feet+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062749054-4Z8FJY494D5U40RZ34JT/Ghika+-+Lazarus+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062744185-PXHB4E6KQ7K9AOJU26XM/Ghika+-+Jacob%27s+ladder+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1682062736751-5QWQTC9EVPRJUV8WJPIK/Ghika+-+Epiphany+%282%29.jpg Blog - ‘Art, the greatest art, is to see things as God sees them’: Biblical scenes in the drawings of Bl. Vladimir Ghika https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/the-archbishop-of-canterbury-visits-bucharest monthly 0.5 2023-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/614889d2-a595-4537-bddb-4ab985ff928e/DSC_4073.JPG Blog - The Archbishop of Canterbury visits Bucharest - It was an immense joy to welcome Archbishop Justin to Romania, following a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul. We are very grateful to HE Andrew Noble and the British Embassy for organising such a rich programme, and for being such kind and generous hosts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/cf10a188-77e8-4bca-98d4-1e7cdb852064/20230313_104902.jpg Blog - The Archbishop of Canterbury visits Bucharest - One of the primary focuses of Archbishop Justin’s visit was Ukraine. His first engagement in Romania was at RomExpo, where he met State Secretary Raed Arafat and representatives of humanitarian and civil organisations working with Ukrainian refugees. Archbishop Justin was also able to spend some time alone with some refugees to hear about their experiences of fleeing Ukraine and arriving in Romania. Throughout the visit, Ukraine remained high on the agenda: the Archbishop met with the Prime Minister, representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Romania. The British Ambassador hosted a dinner at the Residence, drawing together a number of political figures, NGOs and religious leaders. The Archbishop spoke eloquently and clearly about our responsibilities to ensure that Ukraine overcomes Russian aggression in this terrible war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/0db1709a-cdc1-48a1-bdfd-b7f5fb63df04/20230313_155143.jpg Blog - The Archbishop of Canterbury visits Bucharest - Another political and humanitarian focus of the visit centred around combatting modern-day slavery and human trafficking. This is something that the Church of England has spent significant time and resources on in recent years, through the Clewer Initiative; and given the high level of human trafficking from Romania to the UK, this is an area the church’s work can have a real impact. The Archbishop met with NGOs and members of staff at the British Embassy working on this, and it was again something that the Archbishop discussed with the Prime Minister and his staff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/206e9ea0-a44d-4120-82fe-b5feca3e8f7f/20230315_170621.jpg Blog - The Archbishop of Canterbury visits Bucharest - There is still much entrenched inequality in Romanian society, particularly in relation to the Roma population. We visited two Roma communities outside Bucharest to discuss poverty, social inclusion, and access to education. Resources are limited and the scale of the problem is great, but it was encouraging to see such impressive people making a difference in their communities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/000e8f81-bd61-42ca-968f-f1caa25ef766/20230314_131159.jpg Blog - The Archbishop of Canterbury visits Bucharest - The Church of England has a long history of friendship with the Romanian Orthodox Church, and it was wonderful to see that friendship renewed. Archbishop Justin met with Patriarch Daniel, who thanked him for the Church of England’s support of Romanian Orthodox parishes in the UK. We also met with Metropolitan Nifon of Targoviste, a member of the executive committee of the World Council of Churches, and we were warmly received by Archbishop Calinic at Curtea de Arges to visit the historic monastery and the royal tombs. Archbishop Justin also had some time with the Papal Nuncio, and with members of the historic Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania. https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/womens-world-day-of-prayer-at-the-church-of-the-resurrection monthly 0.5 2023-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/85e20491-dde0-4fd4-8a82-07439b330a2b/20230303_113014.jpg Blog - Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Church of the Resurrection - A Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation Make me, O Lord, the instrument of your love, that I may bring comfort to those who sorrow and joy to those who are regarded as persons of little account. In this diverse country, with all our disparities of faith, background, wealth and experience, make me courteous to those who are humble and understanding to those who are resentful. Teach me what I should be to the arrogant, the cruel; for I do not know. And as for me myself, make me more joyful than I am, especially if this is needed for the sake of others. Let me remember my many experiences of joy and thankfulness. And may I this coming day do some work of peace for thee. Amen. (adapted from a prayer by Alon Paton, anti-apartheid campaigner and author of Cry the Beloved Country) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/6b96233b-7312-4453-84ff-6b40a4465329/20230303_113640.jpg Blog - Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Church of the Resurrection - The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God’s power at work. 1 Corinthians 1:18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/3d92138d-4ec3-4969-a244-5e80ab8bf978/20230303_113537.jpg Blog - Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Church of the Resurrection - Generosity God has given us countless gifts! Let us pray for a spirit of gratitude. Take some time to reflect on the things for which you can be grateful in your life. Give thanks for your body and health. Give thanks for something material that you own or use regularly. Give thanks for a relationship. Give thanks for your relationship with God. Give thanks for something surprising. As you conclude, is there something God is calling you to as a result of your time of gratitude? Is there anyone he wants you to call? Is there anything he wants you to give? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/37eeb364-51e4-4209-91fa-9f9cfe06c4e0/20230303_112801.jpg Blog - Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Church of the Resurrection - Creation Creator God, we give thanks for the wonderful gift of creation and your presence in every part of it. As we seek to widen our circle of love, help us to rediscover the value, unity and sacredness of all that exists. We seek forgiveness for the ways in which our actions and choices have damaged the earth, affecting the climate, destroying diversity and impacting the lives of the poorest of our sisters and brothers. In your love, lead us into solidarity and companionship, inspire our leaders to courageous decisions, and grant each of us the wisdom and commitment to act. May we treasure earth’s resources, work to reduce our impact on the climate and be open to a conversion of heart and lifestyle. Amen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/e55ab8a2-26cb-463b-9872-6fc6ab1ec834/20230303_113339.jpg Blog - Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Church of the Resurrection Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4.4-9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/513d83e7-1a21-4668-8e1e-17e03b23b233/20230303_112613.jpg Blog - Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Church of the Resurrection - Peace for the Nations In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/supporting-ukrainian-refugees monthly 0.5 2023-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/f5c19ca0-7d39-4fda-ad95-5ca9b2a58a72/Monica.png Blog - Supporting Ukrainian Refugees "Even when material needs are urgent, we still need human connection so I'm really glad we have this opportunity to meet the people we're helping. The language barrier is nothing compared to that joy." - Monica, COTR volunteer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/3b7224a8-1f65-486c-aa8b-a4a8fbcc6d4b/school+buftea.png Blog - Supporting Ukrainian Refugees Children at the school we support with resources in Buftea, just north of Bucharest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/2af5bcfd-e34d-4874-ba3c-ff3c77dcbfba/Adam.png Blog - Supporting Ukrainian Refugees Adam - A Ukrainian man in his 70s really needed our help to get a safe cataracts operation. He was very worried due to problems with a previous operation in Ukraine. We sent a translator with him to make the process easier. He is so thankful to the church for this procedure which went as well as it could. The pension he receives from Ukraine would not be enough for him to pay for this treatment himself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/cd092d65-f80f-4f7a-9231-8bfe891c2759/David+delivery.png Blog - Supporting Ukrainian Refugees COTR volunteer David offered to drive and help collect hygiene products and school resources for women and children at the Buftea accommodation - being supported by grant money. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/6ffb05e7-fe82-4254-8c55-37a512a6df51/food.png Blog - Supporting Ukrainian Refugees Weekly food orders loaded up weekly and sent to Buftea accommodation - helping to feed around 40 people with basic food items. https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/the-prayer-of-a-queen monthly 0.5 2023-02-22 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/fr-dumitru-stniloae-forgiveness-and-the-renewal-of-the-church monthly 0.5 2023-02-20 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/jonah-more-than-the-whale monthly 0.5 2023-01-30 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/everyday-holiness monthly 0.5 2023-01-24 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/a-treasure-of-the-black-church monthly 0.5 2023-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/58e85aae-3c90-4d7d-b94e-c3ed87d0218c/Hans+Elder+Cana.jpg Blog - A Treasure of the Black Church - At this time of year, as we celebrate the coming of the Magi at Epiphany, we are also mindful of two other events that mark the start of Jesus’ work - the work of God among us. These are the Baptism of the Lord (which the Romanian Orthodox church celebrates on 6th January) and the miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. St John tells us that this miracle at Cana is the first of Jesus’s ‘signs’ (the word John uses for miracles - suggesting the way they point to Jesus’ true identity) and the story recorded in John 2.1-11 is endlessly fascinating. *** I have just been in Brasov for a few days for the first time. It is a wonderful city to explore, and I feel like we only scraped the surface. One of the things I absolutely had to do was see the Black Church - of course for its Gothic marvels - but also for this painting that hangs in the North Transept. It was painted in 1933 by the Brasov-born artist, Hans Eder - and depicts the Wedding at Cana. In a previous blog-post, I wrote about a crucifixion he painted in 1924 that is in the MNAR in Bucharest. As with that painting, the Biblical scene is painted in the contemporary moment - drawing us into the story, and reminding us that the life of Jesus is part of our lives too. It is a striking depiction of the Wedding at Cana because we do not see many of the usual elements - there is no wedding couple, and we do not see Mary, who prompts Jesus to action. Instead, our gaze is fixed on the central figure of Jesus and the light emanating from the water-turned-to-wine. Around Jesus stands a motley group of people - young, old, wounded (the First World War had a significant impact on the artist). This unusual Wedding at Cana is a sign to us of Christ’s power to radically transform our lives - to fill us with the divine light. At the beginning of this New Year, it is a reminder of God’s promise to make all things new. The Church of England’s collect for the Second Sunday of Epiphany is a prayer that encompasses the themes of this painting beautifully. May Christ renew our lives this Epiphany-tide! Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/a-special-carol monthly 0.5 2022-12-24 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/the-christmas-tree-and-the-cross monthly 0.5 2022-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/b933c6af-c60a-4770-93a5-ddd2436bd0b3/Cross+and+Christmas+tree.jpg Blog - The Christmas Tree and the Cross - Earlier this week, I had the great privilege of attending a conference on Human Values and Religious Liberty, held at the Palace of Parliament. It was the first time I had been inside - and whilst I knew it was big, it was only as I was trying to find the right entrance that I realised just how colossal it is! The conference had some fascinating speakers, a range of academics, clergy, and representatives of state institutions. During the coffee break, I had the opportunity to poke around a bit and take a few photos. One of them was this image - the (huge!) Christmas tree juxtaposed with a hanging depicting the Crucifixion. https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/a-theological-conference-in-iasi monthly 0.5 2022-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1670182998611-64EZ9P739SSJUQ02XWU2/oric1.jpg Blog - A Theological Conference in Iasi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1670183013270-CVSWUCKLJE2AT2OUAL5M/oric2.jpg Blog - A Theological Conference in Iasi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1670183030752-S4NAYYDCE98EZ034I52X/oric3.jpg Blog - A Theological Conference in Iasi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/1670183076340-HLB49DGLPNHV7665SMYZ/oric4.jpg Blog - A Theological Conference in Iasi https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/jesus-pomul-vieii monthly 0.5 2022-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/976c211f-e517-4ecf-8955-bec964f4ae19/IMG_8644.jpg Blog - Jesus, Pomul Vieţii - This Advent, I have started work on a small cross-stitch sampler of the Pomul Vieţii motif - the Tree of Life. This is a very common symbol in traditional Romanian embroidery, and comes in a wide-range of styles. The pattern I have been using comes from MăiestrIA, a Moldovan group that promotes traditional needlework. You can see some examples of the forms this Tree of Life motif takes on their website: https://maiestria.com/en/semne/nggallery/semne/pomul-vietii Descriptions of the motif say that it is about the union of earth and heaven, and of the harmony between the material and the spiritual. But to my mind, its significance is much more religious than that implies - for, in Romanian, un pom is usually a fruit tree. This Tree of Life, Pomul Vieţii, takes us right back to the Book of Genesis and the Garden of Eden. https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/advent-living-off-of-johnny-cash-cold-coffee-and-grace monthly 0.5 2022-11-24 https://www.anglicanchurchbucharest.org/blog/the-religious-art-of-the-muzeul-naional-de-art-al-romniei monthly 0.5 2023-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/13c95829-9554-4495-a5f8-4a4b84c7002e/IMG_6068.JPG Blog - The Religious Art of the Muzeul Național de Artă al României - Medieval Embroidered Vestments The Galeria de Artă Veche Românească has one of the best collections I know of embroidered vestments. These are difficult to photograph because of the reflection from the cases, but these vestments alone are worth a visit. Many of the items have retained their colour and vibrancy, and the level of detail is extraordinary. They are full of rich symbolism and you can see the love and care with which these vestments were made, all to the glory of God. The Medieval Gallery also contains innumerable icons, Gospel books and other liturgical items. There is an impressive collection of miniature ivory crosses, and the level of detail on these is phenomenal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/d7c6bc2e-6977-46ab-9f66-cf3b26636dc3/IMG_6084.JPG Blog - The Religious Art of the Muzeul Național de Artă al României - Make it stand out A handful of the frescoes and some of the stonework from Văcărești Monastery are preserved in a side-room of the Medieval Gallery. The monastery was built in 1716 but was demolished in 1984 to make way for a Palace of Justice that was never built. The frescoes are particularly beautiful, but they are also a reminder of the cultural destruction that occurred under the Communist regime. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/0c1da42f-650f-445d-ba22-2f73cdba4c9c/Still+life.jpg Blog - The Religious Art of the Muzeul Național de Artă al României - A Still Life - but not as you know it! In many ways, the collection of vestments and icons may seem unsurprising. I found that the way religious themes (with a particular Orthodox twist) continued to influence Romanian art in subsequent periods to be fascinating. One example is this painting by Constantin Dimitrie Stahi, called ‘Still Life - The Holy Water’ (1882). In Western art, still life paintings became a way of celebrating material pleasure (with food and wine), or expressing mortality and decay (fading flowers or rotting fruit). But this still life calls us beyond both of these things, reminding us of the tangibility of grace - even something as ordinary as water can be a sign for us of God’s work in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/a0bec89f-c60e-40af-bf70-eac1fd39b245/IMG_6096.jpg Blog - The Religious Art of the Muzeul Național de Artă al României - Dimitrie Paciurea (1873-1932) Paciurea is one of the most significant figures of twentieth-century Romanian sculpture. This piece, ‘The Dormition of the Mother of God’ was finished in 1912. I like the way a very conventional icon composition is rendered three dimensional. Instead of the usual crowd of apostles around her as she is taken to heaven, we are the ones that stand beside Mary and are drawn into this narrative. We become part of the scene as it is usually depicted in icons of the Dormition: a reminder that Mary’s final destiny is our final destiny too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/eae5281f-f2fe-4d18-b343-668f8248b99d/Maternitate.jpg Blog - The Religious Art of the Muzeul Național de Artă al României - Gheorghe Anghel (b. 1938) Another sculpture worth considering is this image of a mother and child, called simply in Romanian ‘Maternitate.’ The date - 1954 - may indicate the reason why it is not called ‘Virgin and Child,’ but the composition clearly recalls The Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ. The child extends his arms in the shape of the cross - an image of embrace, but also of future suffering and resurrection. The mother extends her hand in blessing, her fingers arranged in the way that Christ himself blesses in icons and which is still the way Orthodox clergy bless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61092572ab87025311ee27fd/fd02d998-b9f0-475d-a7fa-ca13765648bf/Hans+Elder.jpg Blog - The Religious Art of the Muzeul Național de Artă al României - Hans Eder (1883-1955) One of the most striking pieces of modern religious art is by the artist Hans Eder. He was born in Brasov, and studied across Germany, Belgium and Austria. In 1924, he returned to Brasov where he spent the rest of his life. A significant number of his paintings can be seen in the galleries and churches there. This painting, ‘Crucifixion at the Outskirts of the Village’ (1924), recalls the way-side shrines of Europe - but also the way Christ’s crucifixion is both particular and universal. The man sitting lost and dejected recalls St Peter, the other figures carry on with their lives. The setting could have been first century Palestine, but we see here the continued resonance of Christ’s death for ordinary people everywhere. 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