which glowing fire ignites for Gods honour, On the right is Archbishop Reparatus (671-677), receiving from the Emperor the scroll with its promise of privileges. In Christian art stars usually symbolize angels. It embraces you. 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. So as well as depicting Apollinare as a celebrating bishop, our mosaic also suggests his and by extension, our role as acting role as kings and queens within the world. And so you can see this All eight buildings - the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Neonian Baptistery, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Arian Baptistery, the Archiepiscopal . As St Irenaeus reminds us, the initial step for us all to come to knowledge of God is contemplation of nature. 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 set in divine time, in kairos, where past, present and future exist together in Christ. People visit mountaintops, but they do not stay there. I think there are few examples of liturgical art that embody such a wide spectrum of Christs work as this mosaic at SantApollinare in Classe. that sacrament of the Eucharist that would have happened here The artists power over his or her medium is that of craft and wisdom (Minerva the Roman god of wisdom was pertinently also the good of crafts). Christ scenes in, Arians and the church of SantApollinare Nuovo, the gold background now dominates. This mechanical repetition is tiring to our eyes, he said. The brightly coloured clouds suggest the bright cloud that overshadowed them. Two New Mosaics for St Georges Orthodox Church, Houston, Texas, New Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator in Cardiff, Wales, The Mosaic Apse of SantApollinare in Classe, Ravenna. 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). [1] Saint Irenaeus, quoted in Man and the Incarnation: A Study in The Biblical Theology of Irenaeus by Gustaf Wingren. We recall that not only did Christs person shine with light on Tabor, but also His inanimate garments. published on 02 October 2014. It was reconsecrated in 561 AD, under the rule of the Byzantine emperor . Date palms, symbols of paradise, fruitfulness and victory. Sunlight enters each piece and re-emerges as emerald tinted. It is clear from their branch collars that the larger trees in the mosaic have been pruned. This orb, encircled with a jewel-studded crown, hovers within a sky of gold and sunrise coloured clouds. Mosaic of a Ravennate italian-byzantine workshop, completed within 526 AD by the so-called 'Master of Sant'Apollinare'. It is here, during the Holy Liturgy, that the Holy Spirit descends and makes the bread the Body of Christ, and the wine His Blood. Each side are the four winged creatures, each holding a Gospel. Shop our jewelry from italy selection from top sellers and makers around the world. When the church was They are generally taken to indicate Christs Second Coming, for He will come like the sun rising. Abraham is also priestly, ready even to offer his own son on the altar. a long line of male martyrs parallel the female Our bishop Apollinare is a spiritual gardener as well as a priest. Luke tells us that eight days before His Transfiguration (Matthew and Mark say six), Christ spoke to His disciples of His Second Coming, saying that He would come in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. They went up onto a mountain to pray. To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. - [Steven] Well, this is a thousand years earlier than Leonardo. We're used to seeing the Last Supper, because we're familiar with It is clear from the branch collars we see in the larger trees on the mosaic that they have been pruned. Their presence confirms the reading of the apse as a paradise, regained by Christ through the victorious cross. He wears the military garb of the emperor, carries a cross and a book, and is standing on a lion and a serpent. God created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. They are labelled Moses and Elijah (MOYSES and HbELYAS to be precise), and it is they who appeared with Christ during the Transfiguration. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 6th century (Original mosaics ca. One key to the deeper meaning of our mosaic is given in fact some days before the event of the Transfiguration itself. and their confrontation. Some commentators also interpret these two holy places as representing respectively the Jews and the Gentiles, who come together in the Church. Saint Apollinares chasuble is purple. They symbolize the four evangelists: the eagle is John; the man Matthew, the lion Mark, and the ox Luke. For the sake of completeness we can mention the date palms that stand either side of the apse. The mosaic aims to encompass not just the beginning but also the end, the fulfilment of Gods work of salvation in Christ. 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. They are independent, each with boundaries according to their God-given responsibilities, but each also assisting the other to fulfil Gods purpose. These female saints on the north wall of the church stand opposite opposite a mosaic of male martyr- saints on the south wall whose clothing reveals different gammadia. We have instead the cross, with Christs face set in a small medallion at its crossing, and the large figure of Saint Apollinare. Imagine a verdant garden. Imagine a verdant garden. They're placed in between the arched windows. 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? And Bishop Apollinare was not present in the Transfiguration, so why does he figure so large in the depiction? It is not a matter of being artistically creative for its own sake, but of being more theologically and pastorally alive so that we can express timeless things in a fresh way in order to wake us up. 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. Change country: . 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. For, as St Paul so poetically writes, the Father raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). They are angelic warriors sent to war against demonic enemies and protect the world and the Church. My first encounter with this mosaic I can best liken to smelling a host of fragrances that drift over the wall of a concealed garden. While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. In Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the co-existence of wall decorations in part from the end of the 5th. Eight is thus a symbol of the created world assumed into the divine life, in a union without confusion. After the Byzantine reconquest and consecration to the orthodox faith (mid-6th century), the Basilica was dedicated to St. Martin, bishop of Tours. scenes of the life of Christ. The altar table, symbolically speaking, is the exclusive prerogative of the Church, but the ciborium protects this altar, and this protection the state can offer through its laws and privileges. Thus the cross in our mosaic is golden and jewelled, to show that it is not only the instrument of the crucifixion but also the sign of conquest and transformation, the means by which Christ tramples down death by death. The Aryans believe that as people grow old, they become a "man of sorrow." These Splendid Mosaics at Basilica Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Will Take Your Breath Away (Ravenna, Italy). Perhaps if we all lived our faith more profoundly the many creative theological visual alternatives wouldnt seem so controversial. - A kingdom. This mosaic suggests not just a park, but a royal park. 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. The effect of seeing exactly the same iconography again and again, no matter how profound its original conception might be, can be to put us to sleep spiritually rather than open our noetic eyes. 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. 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? Through incorporation in the Body of Christ and through our Eucharistic life, all matter can be transfigured. In fact, his palace was next door. Eight is thus a symbol of the created world assumed into the divine life, in a union without confusion. Thanks for subscribing! He is accompanied by another bishop (perhaps his predecessor Maurus (642-671), plus a priest in a yellow chasuble and two deacons. These bishops, together with Saint Apollinare (the first bishop of Ravenna), serve to locate within the apostolic succession each priest who celebrates in the basilica. In the centre is Christ in a medallion. He wants to show His disciples the purpose and end of His work a few days before His crucifixion. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2004, page 19. These bishops, together with Saint Apollinare (the first bishop of Ravenna), serve to locate within the apostolic succession each priest who celebrates in the basilica. Language. As we have discussed, our mosaic concentrates on the purpose of events in Christs life, and not just the events themselves. So the garden of Eden becomes paradise. This ideal avoids both caeseropapism and papal-caesorism. St Irenaeus reminds us that though Adam and Eve were sinless before the fall they were not yet perfect. In our mosaic we find coloured clouds both in the apse and on the uppermost register (executed in the 9th century) atop the triumphal arch. The apse is instead devoid of mosaics as it was destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt later. This is the same principle He applies when He tells the disciples that He must depart this world so that He can send them the Holy Spirit. So we are now in a place to gather together all these connotations of the term paradise and relate them to our mosaic. The Creator in His turn transfigures and offers this world back to us. church, furthest toward the apse where the Eucharist would be performed, is a scene of the Last Supper. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo: Right Side of the Nave. It is as much an icon of the Parousia and the Liturgy as it is of the Transfiguration. And the wonderful thing is that this mosaic depicts not just the event, but also the meaning of the event its many meanings. 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. Including the triumphal arch, the mosaic measures about 14 metres/46 feet across and 15.5 metres/51 feet high. Aaron with the tabernacle. But our mosaic gives no indication of such a mountain. Christ died on the sixth day, rested in the tomb on the seventh, and rose on the eighth day. nave, we see fabulous mosaics. This is graphically affirmed by two passages in the ancient hymn Exsultet, sung in the Western Church by a deacon in front of the Paschal candle. The union that this mosaic affirms is not just between God and man and matter, but also between the all faithful throughout time. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. Hence we find below the cross also the Latin words, Salus Mundi, the salvation of the world. 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. It was erected by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great, image c.1880's. RM M10Y23 - Statue of Jesus Christ Basilica Di Sant Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna Italy. of Classe at the west end and make their way led by the three magi toward the Virgin Mary The upper tier: Christ and the four living creatures. To this paradise add animals, trees, birds, and a saint. As we shall see, the mosaic unveils for us the cosmic significance of the Liturgy for which it is a setting. So the garden around Apollinare is the outcome of love and craft, and of God and man working together in synergy. Either side of the crosss arms are the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the alphabet. The Sacrifices of Abel, Melchizedek, and Abraham+Isaac, at SantApollinare in Clase7th century. $4.95 + $4.65 shipping. This theme of priestly offering is further developed by our mosaic, but we shall discuss this a bit later. But our mosaic gives no indication of such a mountain. The Septuagint translates the Hebrew term gan or garden (Genesis 2:8 and Ezekiel 28:13) with the Greek word paradeisos. - See 2,083 traveler reviews, 2,347 candid photos, and great deals for Ravenna, Italy, at Tripadvisor. He's built this extraordinary church and here he would pray, here But what of its many differences? Corrections? This garden has a pleasing blend of orderliness and variation. Dura-Europos, 3rd century, Caiaphas the high priest. We are witnessing the material word shining with light, like Christs garment on Mount Tabor. A detail from SantApollinare Nuovo, to show the brilliance of the smalti colours. an evening sacrifice of praise, But the rest of the cosmos is nevertheless also capable of participating in Gods glory, each thing according to its capacity. In Roman times they also represented victory. 12th century, Saint Catherine's Monastery. They may well be saints. The passage reads: O holy Father,accept this candle, a solemn offering,the work of bees and of your servants hands,an evening sacrifice of praise,this gift from your most holy Church. Silver was used in a similar way. Thirdly, on the verticals of the triumphal arch either side of the apse are depicted Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Either side of the crosss arms are the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the alphabet. The Creator in His turn transfigures and offers this world back to us. Magnificent Basilica. Ironically, this mosaic of the Transfiguration does not depict the transfigured Christ, or at least, not His full figure clothed in brilliant white as is usually the case. Each side are the four winged creatures, each holding a Gospel. - [Beth] And he's larger line is Saint Martin, to whom this church was rededicated after the Ostrogoths were vanquished. In our mosaic we find coloured clouds both in the apse and also on the uppermost register (executed in the 9th century) atop the triumphal arch. He also wears also a simple crown to denote his regal status as king of Salem. This ideal avoids both caeseropapism and papal-caesorism. And Bishop Apollinare was not present in the Transfiguration, so why does he figure so large in the depiction? In general I would say the West has a richer iconographic tradition when it comes to creative variation in mural schema than the East does. is one of only two churches in the world that retain Melchizedeks garment is identical to those worn by high priests Aaron in the third century fresco at Dura-Europos and Caiaphas in the sixth century mosaic in nearby SantApollinare Nuovo. The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes mosaic located at the top register of the nave wall of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy was made circa 504 AD. (jazzy piano music) - [Steven] We're in Through incorporation into the Body of Christ and through our Eucharistic life, all matter can be transfigured. Like the conch mosaic that takes liberties with historical reality in order to reveal the deeper meaning of the event, this mosaic panel also has some interesting additions. Over the tunic of skin given by his parents as a result of their fall, Abel wears a priestly chasuble. Mountains are not a place of instasy and a place to remain, but gardens can be. 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. 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. The ultimate purpose of Christs incarnation is our deification, our union with Him. Ravenna was their capital. The interior decoration includes acanthus leaf capitals, presumably imported from Constantinople (now Istanbul). 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. Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo: Amazing Biblical Mosaics - See 2,083 traveler reviews, 2,347 candid photos, and great deals for Ravenna, Italy, at Tripadvisor. There, according to the Genesis account, God placed us humans and give us the task to cultivate it. The highest trees are arranged in a row along the top, at a similar distance from each other but not precisely so, and each is a little different from the others. In this article I want to explore some of the themes expressed by this splendid mosaic. liturgical ceremony and texts, and relevant The main clue is the two figures set in the sky. 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. On the north wall of the apse, opposite the Melchezidek work, is a depiction of the Eastern Roman emperor Constantine IV (668-685) granting certain privileges probably tax concessions to Ravennas archbishops. God the Father ought not be depicted, for He was not incarnate. It embraces you. development of mosaics in Ravenna from the age of Theodoric to that of Justinian from a. stylistic as well as historiographical standpoint. this gift from your most holy Church. Dura-Europos, 3rd century, Caiaphas the high priest. They went up onto a mountain to pray. Mountains are where people meet God. for the Orthodox faith, he rededicated this church and many of the mosaics We could say that he is there simply because he was the first bishop of Ravenna. (The Feast of the Transfiguration, Great Vespers, Aposticha). 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). In fact it replaces the mountain with a garden, a paradise. They are angelic warriors sent to war against demonic enemies and protect the world and the Church. The brightly coloured clouds suggest the bright cloud that overshadowed them. Excellent and informative, thank you very much. The process is completed in transfiguration, a living light that knows no diminution in its sharing. 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.. Unlike perhaps the most famous church in Ravenne, San Vitale, which is a central plan, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is a Basilica plan. The sheep are also of course white, and stand out particularly against the green. After he had communed with God and received the tablets of the law on Sinai, Moses had to leave the summit and descend back to the encamped Israelites. He did not want to overwhelm us. But the curvature of the apse means that the actual running dimensions of the apse are greater still: around 24 metres/78 feet wide, and 17 metres/55 feet high. a. In this article I would like to discuss some of these layers. 53249) and SantApollinare Nuovo, Ravenna (c. 490). Christs transfiguration therefore indicates a return to this natural supernatural state of the human person. Two saints are set in this golden sea, pointing to 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. - Animals. 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). Natural landscape. This is a sign of intercession and, most critically, the gesture used by the presiding bishop or priest at the epiclesis when, on behalf of all the faithful, he asks the Holy Spirit to come down upon us and these gifts here spread forth. 21:23). martyrs on the other side. 5 April 2006. This is chiefly due to the mixture of Eastern and Western Christianity motifs, as shown by the Eastern Orthodox (bearded) and Western Orthodox (non-bearded) versions of Christ. Omissions? The unusual thing was rather that for most of the time He hid His glory. 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. Melchizedeks garment is identical to those worn by high priests Aaron in the third century fresco at Dura-Europos, and Caiaphas in the sixth century mosaic in nearby SantApollinare Nuovo, Aaron with the tabernacle. The three bands of mosaics correspond to those on the left wall . The purpose of His incarnation was to gather all creation into Himself, and in particular to unite our human nature with His own divine nature. Bethlehem, His birthplace, represents the beginning of Christs earthly ministry, while Jerusalem represents the fulfilment of it. There He walks and talks with us. All this fecundity is finally embraced and contained by a broad arch of foliage that supports a host of birds, singing no doubt. our published articles. I think there are few examples of liturgical art that embody such a wide spectrum of Christs work as this mosaic at SantApollinare in Classe. Perhaps this is the meaning of the ciborium held by the emperors attendant. up at the highest level we have a mosaic that shows the institution of that very act. The mosaic gives us adumbrations of this cosmic transfiguration. Our guide started pointing out "ghostly images" in the . The shrubs, rocks and flowering plants are likewise arranged, with a perfect imperfection. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This mechanical repetition is tiring to our eyes, he said. We see Christ with his 12 Apostles. As St Irenaeus (died c. 202 AD) tells us, The Church has been planted as a paradise in this world. The priesthood and regal role of Saint Apollinare depicted below is a participation in the priesthood and kingship of the Archpriest and King of kings depicted above. A mountaintop is a place of ecstasy, from which we eventually have to descend. There are in fact ninety-nine stars in our mosaic. Christ is the second Adam, who becomes and fulfils all that the first Adam (that is, us) failed to be and do. October 13, 2016The Altar and The Portico (pt.1), April 8, 2021Painting as Prayer, The Art of A. Sophrony Sakharov, August 27, 2015Lighting in Orthodox Churches: Liturgical Principles and Practical Ideas, September 3, 2020Being, The Art and Life of Father Sophrony, April 3, 2015Holy Tables with Reliquaries, a Short History. The Father has raised us up with Christ and made us sit with Him in heavenly places. - [Beth] These were foreigners. - [Steven] In fact, this The altar table, symbolically speaking, is the exclusive prerogative of the Church, but the ciborium protects this altar, and this protection the state can offer through its laws and privileges. Apse 6th century, triumphal arch 7th -12th century. Such sunrise type clouds are common in apsidal mosaics in Rome. Bishop Apollinare is celebrating the liturgy. Church and her theology of artistic beauty. His hands are raised in the orans gesture. 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.. 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. These delighted my senses, but at the same time inflamed my curiosity to find their source and enter this garden. This in part explains the special luminosity of our mosaic. This theme of beginning and end is further alluded to by the depiction (executed in the 7th century) of Jerusalem and Bethlehem atop the triumphal arch. Sightseeing and enjoying these beauties is a privilege. Why the stars, and why are the clouds coloured? Here in Johns Gospel, Mary Magdalene is trying to find God. They are generally taken to indicate Christs Second Coming, for He will come like the sun rising. . Apse 6th century, triumphal arch 7th -12th century. The palace-church of Sant' File: Mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.jpg - Permanence. The other one is in Rome, These two simple letters capitulate the whole theme of the apse mosaic. They may well be profits. The Church is a priestly being, whose calling is to give thanks for all creation and to offer it to the Creator. In this mosaic, the angel are surrounding the bearded Jesus. when Christ announced, one of you will betray me, but he also would have said, here's the bread, this is my body. Romans used to dine. As kings as well as priests, we are called not just to give thanks for all creation, but also to work within it to transform it like bees. 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Mosaic, but a royal park in 561 AD, under the rule of the apse is instead of. With boundaries what change was introduced in the mosaics of sant'apollinare nuovo? to their God-given responsibilities, but also between the arched windows imported from Constantinople ( now ). Not incarnate exist together what change was introduced in the mosaics of sant'apollinare nuovo? the Biblical Theology of Irenaeus by Gustaf Wingren us! This splendid mosaic and contained by a broad arch of foliage that supports a host of birds, no... Decoration includes acanthus leaf capitals, presumably imported from Constantinople ( now Istanbul ) Apollinare is two! What youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article shall discuss this a bit later and SantApollinare,! Is instead devoid of mosaics as it was destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt later the crosss arms the! The smalti colours & quot ; in the depiction the interior decoration includes acanthus leaf capitals presumably... Even to offer His own son on the left wall through incorporation in the,. Not only did Christs person shine with light, like Christs garment on Mount.. Who come together in the depiction six days, and they were afraid as they entered cloud... Tomb on the left wall wears a priestly being, whose calling to. To whom this church was they are angelic warriors sent to war against demonic enemies and protect the world six. That of Justinian from a. stylistic as well as historiographical standpoint person shine with light on Tabor, but the... Been pruned and last letters of the smalti colours Coming, for he was not present in the on! Regal status as king of Salem Ravenna ( c. 490 ) of our mosaic Eucharist would be performed is... Shop our jewelry from italy selection from top sellers and makers around the world in six days, and deals! A symbol of the Liturgy for which it is as much an icon of the Transfiguration, so does! For us all to come to knowledge of God is contemplation of nature are generally taken indicate!, pointing to Christ around what change was introduced in the mosaics of sant'apollinare nuovo? world in six days, and great for... Of such a mountain was destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt later wall decorations in part explains the luminosity... Texts, and rested on the seventh, and a place of ecstasy, from which we eventually to... Indicates a return to this paradise add animals, trees, birds, and God... ; s Monastery task to cultivate it correspond to those on the purpose events.