Nov 2019. This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). Such works seem to flash forth, and are never perhaps can never be repeated. Although its immediate purpose is to act as a sort of witness to a legal contract, reminding future emperors of the Ravenna bishops rights, it also fits very well into our priestly king theme. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, Master, it is good for us to be here. File: Mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.jpg In this article I want to explore some of the themes expressed by this splendid mosaic. The shrubs, rocks and flowering plants are likewise arranged, with a perfect imperfection. Irenaeus reminds us that Man is created in the image of God [i.e. But when God made the starry lights for the night He varied their size, spacing and colour, and this soothes the soul. Your donations help to fund the important work Another clue to this link between the Lords Transfiguration and His Second Coming is His other statement, eight days before the Transfiguration: Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy, Magic Lantern Glass Slide. Scholars date the uppermost tier of the triumphal arch to the ninth century. I commend this study as a first to be done. It is interesting to contrast this scene with that in Genesis. may be transliterated in Latin as Basileia Rhmain, literally meaning "Monarchy of the Romans", but commonly rendered "Empire of the Romans". They are the only human figures in our mosaic that are clothed entirely in white. It is a precursor to the rich vision that St Maximus the Confessor was to write about a century later, where in Christ the human person becomes both microcosm and mediator, to use Lars Thunbergs phrase. It is clear from the branch collars we see in the larger trees on the mosaic that they have been pruned. The mosaic aims to encompass not just the beginning but also the end, the fulfilment of Gods work of salvation in Christ. In fact it replaces the mountain with a garden, a paradise. And just to the right a long line of male martyrs parallel the female And finally, the walls of the whole basilica would have been another level of enclosure since originally the basilica would have been or at least have intended to be - full of mosaic, thus making its whole interior a garden. Both the mosaic and the synoptic Gospel accounts affirm that the Transfiguration was in fact a foretaste given to the three apostles - and to us of His coming again in glory to establish His Kingdom without end. But what stands out most to the viewer is the whiteness of the sheep against the green and to a lesser extent also Moses and Elijah, whose white is not quite so contrasting against the golden background. In the Gospel of Matthew Christ tells us that at His coming again there will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven (Matthew 24:30). A voice came from the cloud, saying, This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. - [Beth] These were foreigners. Our mosaic garden has a pleasing blend of orderliness and variation. In other words, His second coming will be like His Ascension, with a cloud of witnesses (the stars), accompanied by the sign of the Son of Man (the cross). 561, some restorations done in mid-19th century) Church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy. (jazzy piano music). Their authority therefore exists not to subjugate and oppress their medium, but to raise it up and make it even more articulate. But, as we shall see, these themes are nevertheless theologically implicit in the mosaics explicit linking of the Transfiguration with the Holy Liturgy and the Lords Second Coming. But the one passage that perhaps best describes this remarkable mosaic is from the Bible: For [the Father] has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. when Christ announced, one of you will betray me, but he also would have said, here's the bread, this is my body. We are witnessing the material word shining with light, like Christs garment on Mount Tabor. Eight is thus a symbol of the created world assumed into the divine life, in a union without confusion. As with the eighth day Resurrection, the childs eighth day circumcision is the first day of his everlasting membership of Gods community. While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. More specifically, the apse depicts not just the historical event of Christs Transfiguration, but also the present Eucharist and the Kingdom which is to come. a. The mosaics are divided into three tiers. In Roman times they also represented victory. The mosaic is very similar to one of Emperor Justinian found in nearby at San Vitale, and is no doubt based on it. - [Steven] Their outfits are spectacular. Another clue to this link between the Lords Transfiguration and His Second Coming is His other statement, eight days before the Transfiguration: Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. The most immediate meaning of these words is understood by most commentators to refer to Christs coming Transfiguration. Shepherds with sheep and goats, apse mosaic, San Clemente, Rome, 1130s. Last Supper - Sant'Apollinare Nuovo - Ravenna. This mosaic suggests not just a park, but a royal park. The word began as an old Iranian word, paridayda, and signified a walled enclosure. That this is a valid interpretation of the ninety-nine stars is affirmed by the inclusion of Abraham in a mosaic panel on the south wall of the apse. The upper tier: Christ and the four living creatures. But now we know the praises of this pillar, he would take Communion. century and in part from the second half of the 6th century, allows us to follow the. The middle layer is consist of prophets, saints and evangelists. Italiano: Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo a Ravenna: 'Il porto di Classe.'. mosaic representing Christ, this time as a child on his mother's lap, also surrounded by four angels. The passage reads: O holy Father, topics together to highlight the unified witness But I would suggest that our cross also suggests the Ascension, or rather the words of the angels accompanying the Ascension: Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This suggests, as with Melchezidek, a union of priestly and royal ministries. Christs parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:10-14) speaks of the shepherd leaving ninety-nine of his flock to find the one lost sheep. Two saints are set in this golden sea, pointing to Christ. Our guide started pointing out "ghostly images" in the . And there are still more laid out on the triumphal arch and in the curved apsidal wall below. And at the front of the Such works seem to flash forth, and are never perhaps can never be repeated. As St Athanasius, wrote, God became man, that we might become gods(On the Incarnation, 54:3). The unusual thing was rather that He hid His glory for most of the time while on earth. The Church can prophetically oppose a secular power that acts contrary to Gods commandments, but it can also accept material assistance from it if this genuinely aids the Churchs spiritual work and benefits peoples lives. Moses and Elijah are depicted plainly either side of the cross. Being a human person capable of a relationship with the living God, Saint Apollinare has a full halo of gold. He also wears also a simple crown to denote his regal status as king of Salem. Likewise, Christ returned to the world with His three disciples after His Transfiguration. but in the fifth century they occupied Italy and Whom do you seek? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.. To this theme we shall now turn. Stock Photo ID: 42200629 They delight the beholder immediately but at the same time possess layer upon layer of meaning, which reveal themselves only to the patient. Sign up here to receive email notifications when new articles are published. And this would be the moment the name was different. Why, we might ask, is Christ depicted so small, and in the midst of a great cross instead of in His shining garments? But I would suggest that Saint Apollinare, as well as being an individual person, a bishop and a saint, also represents the whole Church in her Eucharistic fullness, giving thanks for and offering all creation. I thank the Opera Religion of the Diocese of Ravenna for its hospitality and availability. The mosaic is a profound theological discourse. A 6th century mosaic along the upper band of the right wall of the nave in the Church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna is considered to be among the earliest images of the Last Supper (an earlier 3rd century composition can be found the Catacombs of Saint Calixtus in Rome). But I would suggest that Saint Apollinare, as well as being an individual person, a bishop and a saint, also represents the whole Church in her Eucharistic fullness, giving thanks for and offering all creation. The word began as an old Iranian word, paridayda, and signified a walled enclosure. Because this image is so multivalenced, I think the simplest approach is to work verse by verse through Lukes description of the Transfiguration and see how the mosaic interprets his words. This ideal avoids both caeseropapism and papal-caesorism. how the arts work together in the 2023 Orthodox Arts Journal | All Rights Reserved | Facebook|Twitter|D&DbyRolla Creative, LLC. These and other anomalies immediately invite us on a journey to try and discover their meaning. its nave wall decorations. After he had communed with God and received the tablets of the law on Sinai, Moses had to leave the summit and descend back down to the encamped Israelites. So the many golden stars in the orb that surrounds our cross represent the host of angels who will accompany Christ at His Second Coming. This hymn was composed perhaps as early as the fifth century, and certainly no later than the seventh, so it may well have been known by the person who designed the mosaic and therefore supports this interpretation of the bees on Apollinares chasuble. There He walks and talks with us. We recall that not only did Christs person shine with light on Tabor, but also His inanimate garments. and their confrontation. One reason is suggested by an Orthodox liturgical text: He wanted not only to display His divinity, but also to show us what it is to be fully human: I am he who is,, was transfigured today upon Mount Tabor before the disciples; and in His own person He showed them the nature of man, arrayed in the original beauty of the Image. Above the paradisiacal landscape with Apollinaris, on a golden background, the hand of God emerges from the white clouds. The Scriptures after all end in the city of God coming down out of heaven to earth, radiant in its fullness, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp (Rev. He stands behind an altar with two loaves and a chalice. - Animals. This is the right wall of the nave. The main clue is the two figures set in the sky. Perhaps this is the meaning of the ciborium held by the emperors attendant. But, as we shall see, these themes are nevertheless theologically implicit because the mosaic explicitly links the Transfiguration with the Holy Liturgy and the Lords Second Coming. Below Saint Apollinare, set between the windows, are mosaics of four previous bishops of Ravenna: Ecclesius (ECLESIVS), who was bishop of Ravenna from 522 to 532 and founder of San Vitale; Severus (SCS SEVERVS), a revered bishop of Ravenna in the 340s; Ursus (SCS VRSVS), bishop ca. As we shall see, the mosaic unveils for us the cosmic significance of the Liturgy for which it is a setting. In Christian symbolism bees represent the immortality of the soul and the resurrection (for a hive seems to come back from the dead after three months of winter hibernation). The wise artist or craftsperson uses their power over the medium with love and discernment, to raise the raw material into something even more beautiful. Abraham is also priestly, ready even to offer his own son on the altar. The figures displaying gammadia are almost exclusively male, except for a long line of female martyr-saints in the mosaics of the Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo. - See 2,083 traveler reviews, 2,347 candid photos, and great deals for Ravenna, Italy, at Tripadvisor. Our mosaic seems to be saying that the Transfiguration transports us humans back to paradise, our original home where we were intended to meet and commune with God. Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. [2] English translation from the Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, built c. 500, renovated 560s, Ravenna, Italy. The great meadow of luminescent green mingles with blue and gold, adorned with imperial reds. Although its immediate purpose is to act as a sort of witness to a legal contract, reminding future emperors of the Ravenna bishops rights, it also fits very well into our priestly king theme. The immediate meaning of these words is understood by most commentators to refer to Christs coming Transfiguration. Christ is the second Adam, becoming and fulfilling all that the first Adam (that is, us) failed to be and do. They are independent, each with boundaries according to their God-given responsibilities, but each also assisting the other to fulfil Gods purpose. This mechanical repetition is tiring to our eyes, he said. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.. Irenaeus reminds us that Man is created in the image of God [i.e. The character wears a purple chlamys fastened on the right shoulder by a . Light thereby literally comes from within the grass itself, and not merely reflected off its surface. So what our mosaic concentrates on is not so much Christs transfiguration as ours. RM 2K64CX4 - 19th century vintage photograph: The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo is a basilica church in Ravenna, Italy. On the left side are the secular authorities: the emperor and his brothers Heraclius and Tiberius, with a fourth figure holding a ciborium. One key to the deeper meaning of our mosaic is given in fact some days before the event of the Transfiguration itself. the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is included. of the arts to the beauty of the Kingdom of God Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.. and to promulgate an understanding of The Lords command to Adam and Eve to fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28) needs to be understood in just this transformative sense. figures that we see down the center of the nave, on one side male, on The wise artist or craftsperson uses their power over the medium with love and discernment, to raise the raw material into something even more beautiful. We are witnessing the material word shining with light, like Christs garment on Mount Tabor. Either side of the crosss arms are the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the alphabet. The sheep of course represent the human flock of Christ. Mosaics of the basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. (D) destroyed. 12th century, Saint Catherine's Monastery. In Christian art stars usually symbolize angels. Portrayals of Jesus as universal sovereign or victorious hero were favoured in areas influenced first by the culture of the imperial court, and then by Byzantine art. For the Persians it came to refer to their expansive walled gardens. So much for the impressive size. The brightly coloured clouds suggest the bright cloud that overshadowed them. Whereas the Melchezidek mosaic opposite combines the roles of priest and king in one person, here the principle is expressed by the, ideally, harmonious relationship between two distinct entities, the state and the Church. The Journal presents these This is usually taken to refer primarily to His crucifixion, but I would suggest that at the same time it refers to His Ascension, His departure from earth into heaven. - [Steven] On the south wall In this case, He has become the Gardener in Eden. liturgical ceremony and texts, and relevant 53249) and SantApollinare Nuovo, Ravenna (c. 490). Language. At its heart is a medallion bearing an image of Christ. When modern man makes streetlights for the night he places the lampposts precisely the same distances apart and makes each lamp identical in brightness and colour. But our mosaic gives no indication of such a mountain. They are independent, each with boundaries according to their God-given responsibilities, but each also assisting the other to fulfil Gods purpose. Round campaniles appeared occasionally in later periods; the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa (begun in 1173), sheathed in a series of superimposed arcades, is a more elaborate version of this type. It depicts the priest King Melchezidek standing behind an altar with bread and wine, with Abel offering a lamb on his right, and Abraham offering Isaac on his left. He did not want to overwhelm us. Perhaps we could look to some of these examples for inspiration. The Creator in His turn transfigures and offers this world back to us. So the many golden stars in the orb that surrounds our cross represent the host of angels who will accompany Christ at His Second Coming. The other one is in Rome, His hands are raised in the orans gesture. Also, on either side of the great jewelled cross are three sheep. Imagine a verdant garden. But now we know the praises of this pillar,which glowing fire ignites for God's honour,a fire into many flames divided,yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,for it is fed by melting wax,drawn out by mother beesto build a torch so precious.[2]. So the garden around Apollinare is the outcome of love and craft, and of God and man working together in synergy. We're in a basilica. Christ is the divine archetype in whose image we humans are made, and whose glory is reflected in the whole material creation so brilliantly depicted on our mosaic spread out below. Being a human person capable of a relationship with the living God, Saint Apollinare has a halo of gold. And Bishop Apollinare was not present in the Transfiguration, so why does he figure so large in the depiction? But I would suggest that our cross also suggests the Ascension, or rather the words of the angels accompanying the Ascension: Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? The mosaic aims to encompass not just the beginning but also the end, the fulfilment of Gods work of salvation in Christ. He is accompanied by another bishop (perhaps his predecessor Maurus (642-671), plus a priest in a yellow chasuble and two deacons. In Christ, the Father has raised us up and made us sit with Him in heavenly places. Is this precise number significant? The creation account in Genesis (2:15) tells us that The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Whom do you seek? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.. When modern man makes streetlights for the night he places the lampposts regularly and makes each lamp identical in brightness and colour. $4.95 + $4.65 shipping. On the south wall of the apse is a depiction of the priest king Melchizedek. Eight is thus a symbol of the created world assumed into the divine life, in a union without confusion. About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. The Two Faces of Jesus - How the early church pictured the divine, Robert M. Jensen, BR 18:05, Oct 2002. They may well be saints. Through the Spirit dwelling within them and transfiguring them He will be closer than if He were present only in the flesh as a human individual. Bishop Apollinare is celebrating the liturgy. Church and her theology of artistic beauty. Sunlight enters each piece and re-emerges as emerald tinted. yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, built by Theoderic (493-526) next to his palace, was originally used as a Palatine Church of Arian religion. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, Master, it is good for us to be here. To this paradise add animals, trees, birds, and a saint. - [Beth] And he's larger THE MOSAIC APSE OF SANTAPOLLINARE IN CLASSE, RAVENNA: SantApollinare in Classe mosaic. This collection _______ the best short stories I have ever read. The female saints in SantApollinare Nuovo (c. 550570 ce) in the same town wear costumes set with green glass cubes among which appear both patterns and large fields of gold tesserae, producing a striking similarity to rich silk brocade. Creatures in paradise We see sheep, but also birds perched on trees, rocks, grass, and even on the floral adornment of the border. We recall that not only did Christs person shine with light on Tabor, but also His inanimate garments. It was not in fact not surprising that Christ shone with light, for He is the glory of the Father, light from light, true God from true God. They are the only human figures in our mosaic that are clothed entirely in white. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. of highlighting new artists and works through A church built onto a family home. He's built this extraordinary church and here he would pray, here Thank you now for the clarity of this revelation and explanation. So our mosaic suggests a link between this promise to Abraham and the kingdom to come, in which the faithful from many nations are gathered into the New Jerusalem, the kingdom of God, to live in an everlasting covenant with Christ. The evangelists summarize the whole work of Christ about which they wrote, from His birth through to His Ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. These mosaics por-tray, on the south wall, the palace (palatium) of the Amal king Theoderic conated with a prole of the urban landscape of Ravenna and, on the north wall, a prole of the nearby suburb of Classe. Some of the Church Fathers say that Adam and Eve were in fact clothed with light before the fall, and only became naked when they turned from Gods ways. God promised: I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you (Genesis 17:7). worship of the Church. martyrs on the other side. The platytera in the apse; pantokrator in the dome; etc, although of course traditional and significant, are not the only things we can put in our churches. Corrections? Others may or may not have been. We do not see in this mosaic the transfigured Christ, at least, not His full figure clothed in brilliant white as is usually the case in depictions of the Transfiguration. This sign of the Son of Man has been understood by the Church Fathers to be the cross. my blood, and remember me. Our bishop Apollinare is a spiritual gardener as well as a priest. line is Saint Martin, to whom this church was rededicated after the Ostrogoths were vanquished. This is in fact an amalgamation of two mosaics from nearby San Vitale, and was probably made around 670, at the same time as the mosaic on the opposite wall, of Constantine IV (668-685). art history and theory. So these stars are effectively the cloud of heavenly hosts who will accompany Christ at His Parousia. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen. It is enacted in the Holy Liturgy that is performed within its embrace, for the mosaic is in an apse and therefore surrounds the sanctuary and Holy Table. Why the stars, and why are the clouds coloured? Some of these themes were without doubt intended by the designer of the mosaic. Saint Apollinares chasuble is purple. Above him is a great golden cross set within in an orb of star speckled blue. Dura-Europos, 3rd century, Caiaphas the high priest. - Permanence. Here is the wine, this is Light thereby literally comes from within the mosaic itself, and is not merely reflected off its surface. rid of the goth king and to take this back It is enacted in the Holy Liturgy that is performed within its embrace, for the mosaic is in an apse and therefore surrounds the sanctuary and Holy Table. This Privilegia mosaic encapsulates the Orthodox ideal of symphony between Church and state. Collectively we are that lost sheep, and the good angels are the ninety-nine sheep not lost. Such sunrise type clouds are common in apsidal mosaics in Rome. It was not in fact not surprising that Christ shone with light, for He is the glory of the Father, light from light, true God from true God.
what change was introduced in the mosaics of sant'apollinare nuovo?