Famous icon painters: Gury Nikitin
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| Kostroma |
The rise of Russian monumental and decorative art falls by 60 - 70 years
of the XVII century. At this time, renewed the Archangel Cathedral in the
Moscow Kremlin (1666), among which several soldiers martyred on the pillars and
parts of the song "Doomsday" belong hand H, G.
In 1668, four icons were painted large size hard and symbolic
iconography for Moscow Church of Gregory Neokessariyskogo. NG performed here
some stigma 'Creed. " In this work, there are elements of the Baroque
style.
Already in the 1660s, NG was the acknowledged master of the "wall
of letters." On the walls of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Danilov
Monastery in Pereslavl (1662 - 1668) presented "The Trinity"
Christological and apocalyptic cycles. NG belong painting vaults
("Annunciation", "descent into hell",
"Resurrection", "The Nativity of the Virgin"), and the
altar ("sacrificial lamb", "washing of the feet", etc.).
They appeared inherent in his manner of receiving "non-mirrored" the
symmetry of the composition, a sense of rhythm, the internal dynamics of the
images, energetic plastic molding forms, contrasts of light and shade. NG bold
approach to the solution of the non-canonical scenes (in
"Apocalypse"), showing remarkable creative imagination and the gift
of a born decorator. The Cathedral of the Epiphany Monastery in Kostroma (1667
- 1672) on the walls of the scale played "iconic" images "on the
throne of the Almighty," "Nicholas", "Smolensk",
"Cyprus", "Vladimir." "Theodore" Mother of God.
(The trend towards the substitution of paintings typical of the iconostasis of
the XVII century.)
The vaults and partly on the walls of the cathedral are located compositions illustrating the "Symbol of Faith", including on the west wall - "The Last Judgement". Two tiers of murals dedicated to the Christological themes (with the exception of land occupied by "icons"), NG and Silas were Savin ponovleny and partially overwritten already existing mural XVI century. They are treated very carefully to the remains of the original ensemble, and even re-created compositions take into account the stylistic features of the manner of his predecessors: the figures have their large size, the movement of characters restrained, but issued a strong inner urge. Painting skillfully reveals the extent and forms of materiality, it is full of genuine monumentality, which corresponds to the pathos of images.
For jobs NG always characterized the organic combination decorativism and monumentality. Last for it is the quality of not only the shape but also the internal contents of the image in the paintings of the image of Our Lady of the Resurrection, the apostles (from the scenes of "Doubting Thomas") executed a large inner significance.
Source: http://petroart.ru/en/art/n/nikiting/main.php
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The life of Saints Cosmas and Damian
Saint martyrs unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian were two
brothers who lived in the second part of the III century. Their parents were
rich and honorable Romans. As Christians they brought their children up
according to the laws of Christ, and then they let them do natural sciences,
just like all rich people of that time did.
They were interested in medicine most of all. They
studied human diseases and with great interest and learned healing properties
of plants and herbs with zeal. They were very impressed by the words from The
Gospel: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:
freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew, 10:8). The brothers decided to
devote their lives to following this commandment.
God blessed their decision and bestowed a special
skill of healing and curing on them. They could cope with any disease. Sick
people and animals recovered as soon as the healers started to cure them. The
wonder-wonders did not charge for helping the sick. What is more, they helped
poor people to make ends meet. They sold all of their possesions they got from
their parents after their death and gave away all the money raised among the
poor. Thus they proved themselves to be unmercenaries.
Although they were living at the time of hard
persecution of Christians, they decided to use their talent in the name of God.
To do this they bypassed Rome and all the surrounding towns and villages and
looked for sick people. Before helping anyone they offered them the teachings
of Christ: “Know, that we just lay on our hands on you, but without the help
and great power of God we can do nothing. He is almighty and He can heal you. Accept
Him and you will be cured”. The sick people believed and got well, and thus the
herd of Christ became bigger. It is obvious, that the pagan government should
have noticed them sooner or later. If Christians were tortured and executed at
that time, then what would the evident preachers of Christ expect? The saints Cosmas and Damian were snitched to
the emperor.
Carinus was the emperor of the Roman Empire at that
time. He listened to the accusers and sent the warriors to arrest the healers
and take them to the trial. The saints were living near Rome in a small
village, in which the estate of their parents was standing. When the warriors arrived,
they asked the inhabitants about the healers. But the faithful people informed
the saints about the danger at once. They asked them to hide at least for a
while. But the saints wanted to reveal themselves to the warriors as they were
burning with desire to suffer in the name of God. The inhabitants asked the
healers to save themselves as they are those who can save many lives. The
healers agreed, and so they were hidden in a cave.
The warriors did not find them. In anger they caught
the honorable men from the village and put them in chains to drive them to
Rome. When Cosmas and Damian learning of these events, they left the cave and
got up to the warriors. They asked them to set those people free and take them,
as it had been ordered. And then they were enchained and brought to Rome, and
they were imprisoned till the next day. And the next day the emperor asked
them:
- Are you those ones, who struggle against our gods? With
magical tricks you mislead the people and make them reject our paternal gods
and laws. You are mistaken, but listen to what I advise you – make a sacrifice
to our gods, which had been bearing with you for so long and did not cause any
harm to you.
- We did not mislead anyone. We did not know any
magical tricks and did not curse anyone. But we cure people with the power of
our Lord Jesus Christ, just as he had commanded: “Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give”
(Matthew, 10:8). We strive not for wealth, but for salvation. Know the true
Lord, emperor, and reject these soulless idols.
- I called you not for declaiming, but for making a
sacrifice to the gods! – exclaimed the emperor.
- We make sacrifices to our true God only, - answered
the saints. Our Lord is the creator of the whole world, while your gods are
invented by people.
- Do not offend the eternal gods, - said Carinus, -
bend to them or you will suffer.
Then the saint unmercenaries were filled with the Holy
Ghost and said: “You renounce God, so then your face will renounce you to your
shame”.
The emperor’s face altered and twisted at once. The
people who saw that declared: “God of the Christians is great, and there is no
other gods except from Him”. Many of them believed in God after that, and they
prayed the saints, that they cured the emperor. The emperor himself prayed too.
- Now I believe you are the servants of the true Lord.
I beg you to cure me just as you had cured the others.
- If you believe with all our heart, then He will cure
you.
Then the emperor exclaimed: “I believe in You, the
true Lord Jesus Christ! Have mercy upon me and forgive me my ignorance!” As he
said that, his neck and his face became normal. The emperor stood up and
honored God; the saints were set free.
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When the inhabitants found out what had happened in
Rome, they went towards the wonderworkers and together they rejoiced and
honored God. Cosmas and Damian began to visit different cities and villages to
cure people and to tell them about Christ. But after that their life was not
long. Devil found another way to harm those men.
There was a famous doctor in that land – the one who
taught the saints medicine. Good reputation of the doctors undermined his own
fame. He became jealous, and that led to murder. When he called them, he
persuaded them with flattery to climb the mountain to gather herbs. To gather
more of them, he offered to split up. The brothers agreed. That was just what
the insidious master needed.
While the brothers were alone, he attacked them
separately and killed with a stone. There was a stream near that place, and on
the bank he buried their bodies. That is how saint Cosmas and Damian were
murdered.
That happened under the same emperor Carinus, and it
means that it was before the year 285. According to the life story of the
saints they were killed in their younger years. When Christianity finally came
to Rome, one of the pagan shrines was turned into a Christian one and was named
after saint martyrs unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian. The famous mosaics of this
cathedral remain in good condition since the VI century.
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Do not fear, but trust
Instinct for self-preservation is the strongest one. Fear is
unavoidable. The aphorisms of the ancient Holy Fathers came to my mind when I
thought about it. A disciple asked a monk: “Why do I fear when I’m crossing the
desert at night?” “Because you are still alive” – answered the monk. By this
answer the monk make the disciple understand, that he is still a part of this
material world and has not experienced death in Christ. It is still ahead. Natural
biological laws can still influence him.
On the other hand, we can interpret this expression literally: while we are
alive, fear is an inalienable part of our nature. It is a natural psychological
reaction.
But how can we overcome it? Only faith can answer this question. The
meaning of the word “faith” is “trust” if you translate it from the Greek
language. And there is a sentence in the Old Testament in which it is said,
that perfect love casteth out fear: Because fear hath torment (1 John, 4:18).
Faith and trust caused by the love to God are those things, which change us and
can make us better. When we come to God and live in Christ, then we get a
completely different type of genesis.
Christos Yannaras, a present-day Greek scholar, gives an example from
Gospel (Matthew, 14: 25-32), in which the disciples were sitting in the boat at
night and saw Christ was going towards them on the sea. They thought it was a
spirit and cried out for fear. But the Lord said them: “Be not afraid. It is
I”. Then Apostle Peter said his master: “Lord, command me to come to you on the
water”. Christ answered: “Come. It is an appeal addressed to all of us. “Trust
Me, and come to Me no matter what, because it is Me who commands and calls
you”. We can find this “come” in each His commandment and word. In Gospel it is
said, that the Apostle got out from the boat and went on the sea, prevailing
over any natural laws. But because of the strong wind, waves and storm, Peter
was scared and began to sink. But God took his hand and they got in the boat.
It is important to understand, that while Peter was looking at Christ he
fully trusted Him. But when he looked back, he thought about himself and was
scared of what he saw, then he began to sink.
We can also trust the Lord, but this does not mean we will manage to
cope with our nature. God does not ask us to go on the water, He said this
Apostle Peter. He says in his commandments: “Accept Me, trust Me and come to
Me”. Then there will be nothing impossible for the believer. Then it is
possible to overcome not only fear, but even death.
We need to understand, Who says this, Who calls us. It is the true
person, but it is the true God as well. God, Who showed us love and all its
fullness. His will is not something imposed from the outside, but it is our
inner law of life. At the same time a sin is not just a violation of
instructions, but it is a violation of the law of life. And that is why it is
the way of death.
To live in trust – this is the only possible way to prevail over fear.
And God says it in Gospel: “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
(Matthew, 10:30). “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew, 8:26) –
this question is addressed to all of us.
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Sermon: You should always strive to reach the Kingdom of Heaven
Archimandrite
Kirill (Pavlov)
On the feast of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul.
In the name of
the father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!
All over the
world their teachings will spread, in each corner of the universe their
prophecy will be heard (Psalms, 18:5). By these words king and prophet David
glorifies the saint Apostles, who were destined to spread the wisdom of Gospel
all over the world.
Dear brothers
and sisters, today the Church of Christ is dressed in festal clothes and
spiritually glorifies two great apostles – Peter and Paul. All the apostles
worked on the establishment of the Church, but Apostles Peter and Paul made the
greatest contribution. For their fervent faith and love to God and their close
ones they are called the Supreme Apostles. The whole Christ’s Church
appreciates all they have done, all the diseases, sorrows, persecutions, and
disasters they have suffered while they were spreading the faith and turning
people from the darkness of pageantry to the light of Christ.
Saint Apostle
Peter (he was also called Kifa or Simon) was from the small city of Vifsaida,
and he was a fisherman. After he had been summoned, he followed Christ
relentlessly and was honored to become His favorite disciple, as well as Jacob
and John the Evangelist. These three apostles became the witnesses of many
divine mysteries. Saint Peter was loyal to God until his died. However, he
forsook God in the high priest’s garden because of his cowardice. But he
redeemed that betrayal with hot tears of repentance. After the Resurrection of
Christ, God asked him three times: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more
than these?” (John, 21:15). Then he was restored in his position of apostle.
At first
apostle Peter was preaching Gospel mostly among the Jews in Jerusalem, but then
he moved to Samaria, Syria, Ashiya, Bithynia, Pont, and Galatia. Finally, he
came to Rome, where he was imprisoned. His martyrdom proved his loyalty to God
and faith. In 67 A.D. he was crucified head down. The story says, that when Emperor
Nero began the persecution of Christians in Rome, the Christians asked apostle
Peter to leave the land. Finally he did so, and when he was going through the
outskirts of Rome he saw Christ on his way, Who was going towards him. He
asked: “Dear Lord, where are You going?” “To be crucified again”, - answered
God to him. So that Peter understood that it was time, when he had to spill his
blood for Christ. He came back to the city and was sentenced to death by
Emperor Nero. Apostle Peter considered himself unworthy to be executed in the
same way as Christ was. He asked to crucify him head down and so it was
fulfilled.
What concerns Apostle
Paul (whose first name was Saul), we know he was from the city of Tars. Before
the conversion he was a persecutor of Christians, who tracked them down and
martyrized them. One day, when he was going to Damascus to pursue Christians, he
saw a flash of light and heard the voice:
“Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me?
And he said,
Who art thou, Lord?
And the Lord
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the
pricks.
And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
And the Lord
said unto him,
Arise, and go
into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts, 9:4-6).
That divine
light made him blind. But when we came back to his city, he was baptized by
Christ’s disciple Ananias, and recovered his sight at once. Thus he turned from
a persecutor into a loyal preacher of Christian faith. Since that time apostle
Paul became the chosen one, who had to preach the Gospel all over the pagan
world. He was preaching in Asia Minor and Greece. He crossed on foot the whole
world and tried to plant a seed of piety everywhere and to bring people to God.
He understood well, that the preaching of the Gospel is rather important for people’s
lives and salvation. That is why he was preaching heartily, although he
suffered from severe opposition of pagans. They endured more grief and
temptation than we can count.
Let us see what
the Apostle himself says about this: “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as
a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons
more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes
save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and
painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in
cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh
upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?
who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Corinthians, 11:23-29)
These are the
feats, the love to God and people which were typical to Saint Apostle Paul. Saint
John Chrysostom said about Saint Paul’s love, that it was wider that see and
stronger than fire. The holy soul of Apostle Paul’s covered the whole universe
and embraced everyone, because he considered our relationships through God to
be stronger than any other relationships.
Saint Paul
loved people so much, that there was no father who could love his own child
more. In spite of all the dangers and deprivations Saint Apostles Peter and
Paul rejoiced in hope, as they knew that we must through much tribulation enter
into the kingdom of God (Acts, 14:22). And their feat of benign acceptance of
all the sorrows should be an example for us. When problems cause, we used to
grieve and depress. And then we grumble at God, and then fear and annoyance
grasp our hearts. But this is not how the Holy Fathers teach us to overcome oppression.
Saint Ephrem
the Syrian once said: “If those, who want to get material wealth suffer from
dangers and setbacks, then we, who tend to reach the Kingdom of God and relish
it forever, must despise any difficulties and dangers. Because if we would not
heartily endure any work and would not humbly cry bitter tears, then how can we
reap what we deserved there, on the other side? If you could reach the Kingdom
without any grief and temptation and without the feat of patience and other
goodness, then what for God made the saints to suffer, but not let them live in
luxury and self-will? That is why we should not despond in case of oppression,
but rejoice we can go the paths of the saint fathers”.
Saint John the John
Chrysostom teaches: “The souls can be cleared when it suffers from oppression
in the name of God. Oppression roots out arrogance and makes the soul wiser.
All the passions, such as jealousy, lechery, predilection to wealth, arrogance,
fear and many others spiritual diseases cede to oppression. Sorrow for the soul
means the same as fire roe gold. It makes the soul clean from corruption, makes
it bright and clear. Grief leads us to the Kingdom, but carelessness – to hell
mouth”.
Pious people
knew the meaning of oppression and even worried when everything was good for too
long. Thus one of the Fathers told a story to another one: “Once, when I came
to Alexandria and visited a cathedral to pray, I saw there a woman dressed in
black. She was crying and praying without cease: “God, you left me alone. Dear
Lord, have mercy upon me!”. “It seems the woman is a widow and someone has
abused her, that is why she is so sorrowful” – I thought. I decided to come
closer and to speak to her. I said: “It seems someone has abused you, because
you are very sad.” “No” – she answered still crying – “This is not the reason.
I live among people and no one offends me. So I cry, because God forgets about
me, just like I forget about Him. I’ve been living without any grief for three
years. I was not sick, neither was my son. No chicken was stolen from me. That
is why I think, that God doesn’t sent me any sorrow, as He has left me because
of my sins. And now I am asking Him to have mercy and bless me with His grace.”
Pious people considered any oppression to be the sign of God’s grace and love.
Dear brothers
and sisters. In our lives we often face different problems and sorrows. That is
why to cope with them with humble and patience we should to pray heartily to
Saint Apostles Peter and Paul, our patron saints, and ask them to pray for us
and help us to cope with our arrogance, to strengthen our faith in Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, to get enduring love to our Lord, purity of life, and
meekness and humility.
First-enthroned
of the apostles, teachers of the universe: Entreat the Master of all to grant
peace to the world, and to our souls great mercy! (Saint Apostles Peter and
Paul Troparion, Tone 4)
Translated
from:
http://azbyka.ru/days/p-svjatyh-pervoverkhovnyh-apostolov-petra-i-pavla#n3 |
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