09 works, Today, December 4th, is Saint John the Silent, يوحنا الدمشقي day, his story, illustrated #337

Unknown iconographer

Saint John with his adoptive brother Cosmas

I have no further description, at this time

Our Righteous Father John of Damascus (760) was one of the Church's greatest hymnographers and one of Her greatest theologians and defenders of the Faith.

Anonymous Catalonian illustrator

 Muslim conquest of the Levant, (c. 1310–1325)

Battle of Yarmouk by an anonymous Catalonian illustrator

National Library, Spain

Illustration of the Battle of Yarmouk (636). The Saracens are shown with a star and crescent banner, the Byzantines (anachronistically in Crusader era armour) with a star banner. More on this work

The city of Damascus in Syria fell to the Muslims in 635. At the time of the Caliph Abdul-Malik, responsibility for government of the Christian population was given to Sergius Mansur, a prominent Christian of the city. Sergius strove to govern in a godly way under the many disabilities imposed by the Caliph, and devoted his wealth to almsgiving and to ransoming Christian prisoners. His son John was born in 675, and along with his adoptive brother Cosmas was brought up Christian.

John, whose exceptional education included a perfect knowledge of both Greek and Arabic, entered the civil administration and eventually succeeded to his father's position under the Caliph. 

Unknown iconographer

Son of Mansur, Saint John the Silent

Icon

I have no further description, at this time

This icon of John of Damascus holding an icon of Christ tells a bit of the saint’s story; he defended iconography against heresies.

Atanas Atanasov

Emperor Leo III the Isaurian

Atanas Atanasov is an accomplished artist whose inner poetics penetrates deeply into the very soul of nature and by revealing its strength and splendour creates a spiritual domain. At a time when temptations have almost replaced true ordeals, Atanas Atanasov has succeeded in preserving and developing the virtues of an absorbing and beautiful style of painting born through experience that combines in a natural way the genuine tradition with the truth in the artist's heart. 

Atanas Atanasovwas born in Bourgas in 1964. In 1991 he graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia in the painting course of professor Svetlin Russev. He is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists from 1997. He is working in the sphere of the art of painting mural painting and the illustration.Prof.Svetlin Roussev

Unknown artist

The Byzantine Iconoclasm of Leo III the Isaurian

Etching

 58.6 x 53 cm | 23.1 x 20.9 inches

Private collection

When the Byzantine Emperor Leo III "the Isaurian"  began to attack the holy icons, Saint John undertook a spirited defense of the Faith through letters to correspondents throughout the Empire. Normally the Emperor would have killed or exiled the Saint directly, but since he lived in Muslim lands the Emperor could not touch him. So the Emperor circulated a forged letter which made it appear that John was plotting against the Caliph. 

Unknown iconographer

Saint John the Silent with the three Hands, before the icon of the Mother of God

I have no further description, at this time

When this letter fell (as planned) into the Caliph's hands, he was furious, and ordered that the Saint's right hand be cut off. That evening John placed his severed hand before the icon of the Mother of God and prayed with tears that it might be restored. 

On awaking he found that his hand had been miraculously restored to him. The miracle convinced the Caliph of his counselor's innocence, and John was restored to favor; but now John wanted nothing more of worldly honor and wished only to be a monk. 

Unknown iconographer
Madonna with three hands

Bulgarian icon

Tempera on wood and canvas

35 x 25 cm

Private collection

As a sign of gratitude he applied a silver hand to the icon, the first ex-voto in the history of Christianity.

Giving up his position, he distributed his fortune among the poor and left for Jerusalem to become a monk at the Monastery of St Sabas.

The Abbot of the monastery put John under an Elder who ordered him to have nothing to do with philosophy, science, poetry, chanting or reading, but to give himself uncomplainingly to menial tasks so as to advance in humility. This the Saint did. 

Theophilia

St. John Damascene

Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

4.5 x 6 inches

Private collection

Theophilia, "I'm a native of the lovely Mitten State and the fifth out of eight children.  I'm an avid reader and am particularly fond of ancient and medieval European history, as well as theology and philosophy. Although primarily self-taught, I graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2017 with a B.S. degree majoring in Art and minoring in Classical Studies.

In my artwork, I am principally inspired by the traditions of Catholic sacred art, along with the culture, history and art of the Middle Ages. The Catholic theological worldview fuels my passionate love for religious and historical subjects. This incarnational attitude is the reason that the human figure (especially that of the saints) plays such a central a role in all my artwork. 

I work with a variety of materials and art forms. Much of my portfolio consists of icons, landscape paintings, portraits, calligraphy, illuminations, wood-carving, pyrography, graphic novels, poetry, and short stories. The media I work with the most are ink and watercolors. I also like decorative elements of all sorts: designs, borders, and patterns, and pay particular homage to my love of gothic architecture and stained-glass windows. I work in a traditional, naturalistic style inspired by the paintings of late nineteenth-century artists, stained-glass windows, and traditional Byzantine and medieval iconography. More on Theophilia

Some time later, however, a monk grieving over his brother's death persuaded John to write a funeral hymn for his consolation. Out of compassion, John wrote the hymn which is used to this day in the Funeral Service. For his disobedience, John was given the job of cleaning all the latrines of the monastery by hand, which, again, he did without complaint. A few days later the Theotokos,  literally "God-bearer" is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, appeared to the Elder and told him to allow John to compose hymns and poems, which, she told, him, would surpass the Psalms of David in beauty and grace.

Attributed to Iconographer Ne'meh Naser Homsi

John of Damascus, 19th c

Arabic icon from Damascus (Syria)

I was unable to find information on Ne'meh Naser Homsi

Thus the monk John began to write the large body of inspired hymns which grace the Church's services. Among these are the Canon chanted at the Pascha Service, as well as most of the Resurrectional hymns of the Octoechos.

Saint John's poetical gifts were matched by his gifts for expressing the Church's theology: he composed a powerful defense of the icons, a complete exposition of the Orthodox Faith, and the first written refutation of Islam, which he had come to understand well while serving in the Caliph's court.

In old age, John was ordained a priest by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. He reposed in peace in 760 at the age of eighty-four. More on Saint John the Silent

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints and 365 Days, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.

06 works, Today, September 8th, is The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos day, her story illustrated #251

Unknown artist

St. Anne is portrayed with her finger to her lips, c. 8th- or 9th-century

Fresco

Discovered at Faras Cathedral in old Nubia, in present day Sudan

National Museum in Warsaw

The Nativity of the Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Church as a day of universal joy. Within the context of the Old and the New Testaments, Mary was born, having been chosen before the ages by Divine Providence, to bring about the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. She is revealed as the Mother Jesus Christ.

She was born in the city of Galilee, Nazareth. Her parents were Joachim of the tribe of the Prophet-King David, and Anna from the tribe of the First Priest Aaron. The couple was without child, since Anna was barren. Having reached old age, Joachim and Anna had strong faith that everything was possible with God. 

Jacques Stella

St. Anne Leading the Virgin to the Temple, c.1635-45

Oil on canvas
Private collection

Jacques Stella (1596 - 29 April 1657), born in Lyon, was a French painter. His father was François Stella, a painter and merchant of Flemish origin, but he died too soon to train Jacques in painting. Stella trained in Lyon before spending the period from 1616 to 1621 in the court of Cosimo II de Medici in Florence, working alongside Jacques Callot - Florentine art is a strong influence on all Stella's work. On Cosimo's death in 1621 Stella moved to Rome, where he spent the next 10 years and won a reputation thanks to his paintings, small engravings and painted work on stones. Working for pope Urban VIII, Stella was influenced in Rome by classicism and more specifically by the art of Nicolas Poussin, with whom he became an intimate friend.

 

Returning to Lyon in 1634 before moving to Paris a year later, Stella was presented to Louis XIII by cardinal Richelieu. The king made him peintre du roi, and granted him a pension of 1000 livres. From 1644 he took part in the decoration of the Palais-Cardinal. Towards the end of his life he devoted himself more and more to drawing. He was a major art collector throughout his life, building a collection of paintings by Poussin and Raphael and drawings by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. He died in Paris. More on Jacques Stella

Joachim and Anna vowed to dedicate the child which the Lord might give them to the service of God in the Temple. 

Unknown artist

Sts. Joachim and Anna bringing their sacrifice to the Temple

I have no further description, at this time

Childlessness was considered as a Divine punishment for sin, and Joachim and Anna had to endure abuse from their own countrymen. On one of the feast days at the Temple, the elderly Joachim brought his sacrifice to offer to God, but the High Priest would not accept it, considering him to be unworthy since he was childless.

Filippino Lippi, 1497

The Meeting of Joachim and Anne Outside the Golden Gate of Jerusalem

Tempera on panel

National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen.

Filippino Lippi, (born c. 1457, Prato, Republic of Florence—died April 18, 1504, Florence) early Renaissance painter of the Florentine school whose works influenced the Tuscan Mannerists of the 16th century. After his father’s death, Filippino entered the workshop of Botticelli. By 1473 he had finished his apprenticeship. The style of Filippino’s earliest works stems from that of Botticelli, but Filippino’s use of line is less sensitive and subtle than Botticelli’s. In a group of paintings executed about 1480–85 he developed a harder and more individual style. Among the most notable works of this period is the Journey of Tobias (above). He was employed, along with Botticelli, Perugino, and Domenico Ghirlandaio, on the frescoed decoration of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s villa at Spedaletto and at the end of 1482 was commissioned to complete work left unfinished by Perugino in the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence. No trace of either work survives. Soon after (probably 1483–84) he was entrusted with the completion of the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel in the Carmine, which had been left unfinished on Masaccio’s death in 1428.

After his return from Rome, Filippino executed a fresco of the Death of Laocoön for the villa of Lorenzo de’ Medici at Poggio a Caiano, in which some of the decorative devices used in the Carafa Chapel are again employed, and resumed work in the Strozzi Chapel (completed 1502), the frescoes of which anticipate Tuscan Mannerism of the 16th century. More on Filippino Lippi

In deep grief, Joachim went into the wilderness, and there he prayed with tears to the Lord for a child. Anna wept bitterly when she learned what had happened at the Temple. Never once did she complain against the Lord, but rather she prayed to ask God’s mercy on her family. 

Attributed to Ambrosius Benson and workshop  (circa 1495 –1550)

The Conception of the Virgin, circa 1530

The Archangel Gabriel brought Joachim and Anna the message

Oil on canvas

Parish of Santa María in San Llorente de Losa, Burgos

Ambrosius Benson (c. 1495/1500, in Ferrara or Milan] – 1550, in Flanders) was an Italian painter who became a part of the Northern Renaissance.

 

While many surviving paintings have been attributed, there is very little known of him from records, and he tended not to sign his work. He is believed to be responsible for mainly religious art, but also painted portraits on commission. He sometime painted from classical sources, often setting the figures in modern-dress, or a contemporary domestic setting. In his lifetime he was successful; he had a large workshop, his work was sold internationally and he was especially popular in Spain.

 

Benson became popular as a source for pastiche with 19th-century painters, who are sometimes known as the "followers of Benson". In particular his many variations of the Magdalen and Sibilla Persica were further copied and became popular with contemporary buyers. Many have retained their relative value and held in the National Gallery, London and command high prices at Sotheby's. More on Ambrosius Benson

The Archangel Gabriel brought Joachim and Anna the message that their prayers were heard by God, and of them would be born a most blessed daughter, Mary, through Whom would come the Salvation of all the World. The Virgin Mary surpassed in purity and virtue, not only all mankind, but also the angels.


The Nativity of the Theotokos marks the change when the great promises of God for salvation from slavery to the devil were about to be fulfilled. This event brought to earth the Kingdom of God. The Theotokos is revealed to all of us by grace as a merciful Intercessor and Mother, to Whom we have recourse with filial devotion. More on Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Theophilia

St. Anne

Icon
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

Private collection

Theophilia: "Although primarily self-taught, I graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2017 with a B.S. degree majoring in Art and minoring in Classical Studies.

In my artwork, I am principally inspired by the traditions of Catholic sacred art, along with the culture, history and art of the Middle Ages. The Catholic theological worldview of the Incarnation elevates humanity and the whole of history into a glorious and epic narrative which fuels my passionate love for religious and historical subjects. I love to work with a variety of materials and art forms. Much of my portfolio consists of icons, landscape paintings, portraits, calligraphy, illuminations, wood-carving, pyrography, graphic novels, poetry, and short stories. 

The media I work with the most are ink and watercolors, though I also paint with acrylics. In all my work, I delight in dense ornamentation, bright colors and vivid contrasts between light and dark. I work in a traditional, naturalistic style inspired by the paintings of late nineteenth-century artists, stained-glass windows, and traditional Byzantine and medieval iconography.

I enjoy thoroughly researching my subjects before painting them. In my icons of the saints I try to convey their personality and spirituality through the use of symbolism, while also grounding them in the historical period in which they lived through accurate contemporaneous clothing, hairstyles, etc. The saints are universal and are for all times and places, but I've found that too often in artwork they are abstracted to the point of seeming like nothing more than vague mythological figures. I aspire to create artwork that is a rich blend of theology, historically-grounded realism, symbolism, ornamentation, and transcendent goodness and truth through the beauty of the pieces I create. I want the viewer's eye to be captivated and drawn in so that they are led onward to contemplate the beauty of God and His creatures. More on Theophilia

Orthodox Christians do not hold to the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, in which it is supposed that Mary was preserved from the ancestral sin that befalls us all as descendents of Adam and Eve, in anticipation of her giving birth to the sinless Christ. The Orthodox believe that Mary indeed received the ancestral sin, having been conceived in the normal way of humanity, and thus needed salvation like all mankind. Orthodox thought does vary on whether Mary actually ever sinned, though there is general agreement that she was cleansed from sin at the Annunciation. More on the Immaculate Conception

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.