Saturday, June 6, 2020

06 Works, Today, June 6th is Saint Hilarion's day, his story in Paintings #157

Unknown artist
Synaxarion of Saint Hilarion

Saint Hilarion was born around 776. His pious parents were known by Emperor Leo IV the Khazar, his father being the bread supplier at the imperial table. 

Unknown artist
Leo IV the Khazar, 750 –780, Byzantine Emperor from 775 to 780

According to the Evangelical counsel, at twenty years of age he left his father, mother, home, and possessions, and entered the monastery of Xerokopios in Byzantium. He then went to the monastery of Dalmaton, where he received the Great Angelic Habit and priestly ordination. 

Unknown artist
Nikephoros I
12th century Manasses Chronicle

Upon the hegumen's death, Emperor Nicephoros I Logothetus (802-811) as well as the Patriarch of Constantinople designated him to succeed him. He ruled Christ's flock with divine virtue for eight years. 

Unknown artist
The proclamation of Emperor Leo V the Armenian

When the savage Leo the Armenian seized the imperial scepter and undertook to destroy the Holy Icons, the Saint was led to the imperial palace and called upon in vain to reject the Holy Icons. The Emperor sent him to the monastery of Phoneus near Detroit, where he kept him for six months. Then he had him shut up and maltreated in the monastery of Cyclobium. After two years and six months, he was sent to a military prison from which he withdrew him to exile him to the fortress of Protilion, after a cruel beating. 

Michael the Stammerer

Under Michael the Stammerer, becoming Emperor in 820, the Saint was freed and sheltered by a pious woman who served him for seven years. Emperor Theophilos again arrested all confessors of the faith in order to imprison them. After having received one hundred and seventeen whip lashes on his back, Saint Hilarion was exiled for eight years to the island of Aphousia. 

Unknown artist
Mosaic of Theodora
Basilica of San Vitale (built A.D. 547)

Upon Theophilos' death in 842, Empress Theodora called all the exiled confessors together in the capital in 843 and confirmed Orthodoxy by the exaltation and veneration of the Holy Icons. Set free, the Saint returned to his monastery where he died three years later in 845 or 846. More on Saint Hilarion





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Friday, June 5, 2020

05 Works, Today, June 5th is Saint Constantine I of Kiev's day, his story in Paintings #156

Saint Constantine I of Kiev 

Saint Constantine I of Kiev was the Metropolitan of Kiev in the twelfth century.


Grand Prince Isiaiaslav???

After the repose of Metr. Michael of Kiev in 1145, the Grand Prince Isiaiaslav moved to have the schemamonk Clement (Kliment) consecrated to the Kievan see without the blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople. 


Vita icon of Abp. Nifont of Novgorod

At a council of bishops, Abp. Nifont of Novgorod voiced his disapproval of this action, advising the council that it was contrary to the tradition of the Russian Church as the Church had received the Orthodox faith from Constantinople. The consecration of Clement took place regardless of Abp. Nifont’s objection.


The Presentation of St. Constantine as the Metropolitan of Kiev to the
Patriarch of Constantinople Constantine IV
A miniature from the Facing Chronicle. XVI century.

When he had learned of this action the Patriarch of Constantinople sent Metr. Constantine to Kiev to investigate the situation. Constantine took cause to depose Clement and assumed the see in Kiev himself. He there upon exiled all the priests that Clement had ordained. This created a dispute between supporters of Clement and Constantine. At the request of the princes, the Patriarch sent Theodore to Kiev, who then removed both Clement and Constantine from office.


Burial of St. Constantine
A miniature from the Radzivilovo Chronicle. XV century.

In his will that was read after his repose in 1159, Constantine wrote that he was not to be buried but be thrown to the dogs to eaten as he saw himself guilty of sowing discord in the Church. His survivors were thrown into confusion, but daring not to follow his instructions, they took his body and threw it outside. There his body laid for three days while terrible weather came to Kiev. It thundered, lightening flashed, and the earth trembled. Seeing this, the Prince of Kiev directed that Constantine's body be taken and buried in the church in which Prince Igor had been laid, upon which the world in Kiev returned to its natural course. More on Constantine I of Kiev





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Thursday, June 4, 2020

05 Works, June 4th is Saints Mary and Martha's day, their story in Paintings #155

Johannes Vermeer  (1632–1675)
Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, between circa 1654 and circa 1656
Oil on canvas
Height: 1,585 mm (62.40 in); Width: 1,415 mm (55.70 in)
Scottish National Gallery 

Johannes, Jan or Johan Vermeer (1632 – December 1675) was a Dutch painter who specialized in domestic interior scenes of middle-class life. Vermeer was a moderately successful provincial genre painter in his lifetime. He evidently was not wealthy, leaving his wife and children in debt at his death, perhaps because he produced relatively few paintings.

Vermeer worked slowly and with great care, and frequently used very expensive pigments. He is particularly renowned for his masterly treatment and use of light in his work.

He was recognized during his lifetime in Delft and The Hague, but his modest celebrity gave way to obscurity after his death. In the 19th century, Vermeer was rediscovered by Gustav Friedrich Waagen and Théophile Thoré-Bürger, who published an essay attributing 66 pictures to him, although only 34 paintings are universally attributed to him today. Since that time, Vermeer's reputation has grown, and he is now acknowledged as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. More Vermeer

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, He came to Bethany where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. 

Joachim Beuckelaer, (circa 1533 –1575)
The well-stocked kitchen, with Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary in the background, c. Antwerp, 1566
Oil on panel
Height: 171 cm (67.3 in); Width: 250 cm (98.4 in)
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Joachim Beuckelaer (c. 1533 – c. 1570/4) was a Flemish painter specialising in market and kitchen scenes with elaborate displays of food and household equipment. He also painted still lifes with no figures in the central scene. His development of the genre of market and kitchen scenes was influential on the development of still life art in Northern Europe as well as Italy.

Beuckelaer was born in Antwerp into a family of painters. He possibly learned to paint in the workshop of his uncle, Pieter Aertsen,. Aertsen was best known for his market and kitchen scenes, genres. Beuckelaer became an independent master in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1560.

Beuckelaer remained active in Antwerp throughout his career and continued to develop themes pioneered in painting by Aertsen, but arguably surpassing his presumed master in skill. The date of his death is not known with certainty but fell likely between 1570 and 1574. More on Joachim Beuckelaer

Attributed to Georg Friedrich Stettner
Christ in the house of Martha, c. 17th century
Oil on oak
91 x 146.5 cm.
Private collection

I have no information on Georg Friedrich Stettner!

She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”


Dieric Bouts  (circa 1420 –1475)
Christ in the House of Simon, c. 1440
Oil on panel
Height: 40.5 cm (15.9 in); Width: 61 cm (24 in)
Gemäldegalerie,  Berlin

Dieric Bouts (born ca. 1415 – 6 May 1475) was an Early Netherlandish painter, Bouts was born in Haarlem and was mainly active in Leuven (Louvain), where he was city painter from 1468. Very little is actually known about Bouts' early life, but he was greatly influenced by Jan van Eyck and by Rogier van der Weyden, under whom he may have studied. He is first documented in Leuven in 1457 and worked there until his death in 1475.

Bouts was among the first northern painters to demonstrate the use of a single vanishing point. His work has a certain primitive stiffness of drawing, and his figures are often disproportionately long and angular, but his pictures are highly expressive, well designed and rich in colour, with especially good landscape backgrounds. More on Dieric Bouts

This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair; at the House of Simon.

In speaking with Jesus, both sisters lament that he did not arrive in time to prevent their brother's death.

Jesus' response to Martha is one of teaching, calling her to hope and faith, his response to Mary is more emotional: "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. More on Saints Mary and Martha

Jesus replies , "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die". 

Carl Bloch (1834–1890)
Raising of Lazarus by Jesus, c. 1870s
I have no further description, at this time

Carl Heinrich Bloch (23 May 1834 – 22 February 1890) was a Danish painter.

He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Art. His only interest was drawing and painting, and he was consumed by the idea of becoming an artist. He went to Italy to study art, passing through the Netherlands, where he became acquainted with the work of Rembrandt, which became a major influence on him. 

His early work featured rural scenes from everyday life. From 1859 to 1866, Bloch lived in Italy, and this period was important for the development of his historical style.

His first great success was the exhibition of his "Prometheus Unbound" in Copenhagen in 1865. After the death of Marstrand, he finished the decoration of the ceremonial hall at the University of Copenhagen. 

He was then commissioned to produce 23 paintings for the King's Chapel at Frederiksborg Palace. These were all scenes from the life of Christ which have become very popular as illustrations. The originals, painted between 1865 and 1879, are still at Frederiksborg Palace.

Bloch died of cancer on 22 February 1890. His death came as "an abrupt blow for Nordic art" according to an article by Sophus Michaelis. Michaelis stated that "Denmark has lost the artist that indisputably was the greatest among the living." Kyhn stated in his eulogy at Bloch's funeral that "Bloch stays and lives." More on Carl Bloch 

In the presence of a crowd of Jewish mourners, Jesus comes to the tomb. Over the objections of Martha, Jesus has them roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb and says a prayer. He then calls Lazarus to come out and Lazarus does so, still wrapped in his grave-cloths. Jesus then calls for someone to remove the grave-cloths, and let him go.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus, reposed in Cyprus, where Lazarus became first Bishop of Kition.





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04 Works, Today, June 3rd is Saint Lucillian's day, his story in Paintings #154

Unknown artist
Holy Martyr Lucillian and those with him

Saint Lucillian was a pagan priest during the reign of the Roman emperor Aurelian. In his old age he turned to the faith in Christ, and was baptized.

Under the influence of his preaching many pagans were converted to Christianity. Then certain Jews, seeing that he was spreading faith in Christ, reported Lucillian to the Nicomedia prefect Silvanus, who urged the old man to return to idol-worship. When he refused, they smashed the saint’s jawbone, beat him with rods and suspended him head downward, and then they locked him in prison. Here he met four Christian youths: Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius. Saint Lucillian urged them to stand firm in the Faith, and to fear neither tortures nor death.

Unknown artist
Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius in a red-hot furnace

After a while they brought them to trial and then threw them into a red-hot furnace. Suddenly, rain fell and extinguished the flames, and the martyrs remained unharmed. 

Unknown artist
The holy youths were beheaded by the sword

The governor sentenced them to death, sending them to Byzantium to be executed. The holy youths were beheaded by the sword, and the holy martyr Lucillian was nailed to a cross with many nails.

Unknown artist
The holy virgin Paula

The holy virgin Paula witnessed the contest of the martyrs. She provided food to Christian prisoners, washed their wounds, brought medications, and also buried the bodies of martyrs. After the death of Saint Lucillian and the four young men, she returned to Nicomedia and continued with her holy service. She was arrested and cast into a furnace, but by the power of God she remained unharmed. Then they sent her off to Byzantium, where the she was beheaded. More on Saint Lucillian





Please visit my other blogs: Art CollectorMythologyMarine ArtPortrait of a Lady, The OrientalistArt of the Nude and The Canals of VeniceMiddle East Artists365 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.

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Tuesday, June 2, 2020

04 Works, Today, June 2nd is The Holy Martyr Constantine's day, his story in Paintings #153

Artist unknown
The Holy Martyr Constantine

The Holy Martyr Constantine was born upon the island of Mytilene, the capital city and port of the island of Lesbos, into a Muslim family. At the age of 15 he fell ill with smallpox, from which he completely lost his eyesight and awaited death. A certain Christian took him to church and washed him with holy water. They brought him out of the temple completely healthy.

His father died early. His mother married again, but his new father was bad and was a drunk. Because of this he moved to Smyrna with his three siblings. He would go continually to the Metropolis of Smyrna, a Greek city located on the Aegean coast of Anatolia, where he heard and learned the Greek language and the Christian faith.


Artist unknown
St. Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople

He decided to flee to the Holy Mountain, Mount Athos today,  in northern Greece, site of a semi autonomous republic of Greek Orthodox monks inhabiting 20 monasteries and dependencies, but no one accepted him. Then St. Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople, who was in exile on Athos, having tested him, baptized him as a Christian in Kavsokalyvia, with the name Konstantinos. 

In the Skete of the Precious Forerunner, a term often used for a small monastic community, he venerated the precious relics of the new martyrs and he was seized with the desire to imitate their deeds. Having passed time in fasting and prayer close to a spiritual father, he decided to go to Magnesia, to have his sister baptized as a Christian. After the advice of the Fathers, however, he sailed from the Holy Mountain and landed in Kydonies. 


Artist unknown
The Holy Martyr Constantine

There he was recognized by some Turk who led him to the Aga. He confessed Christ and then confessed his origin. He was imprisoned and terribly tortured. When they questioned him again, Konstantinos made the sign of the Cross before them, thus demonstrating his immovable faith. Then they again imprisoned him and tortured him in a terrible manner. 


Artist unknown
The Holy Martyr Constantine

But the leader, seeing that his efforts were in vain, sent him to Constantinople. There having suffered difficult tortures, in the end he was hanged on June 2nd 1819. More on The Holy Martyr Constantine





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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.
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Monday, June 1, 2020

06 Works, Today, June 1st is Saint Justin Martyr's day, his story in Paintings #152

St Justin Martyr

Justin Martyr, an early Christian apologist, is regarded as the foremost exponent of the Divine Word, the Logos, in the second century. He was martyred, alongside some of his students, and is venerated as saint by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue did survive. The First Apology, his most well known text, passionately defends the morality of the Christian life, and provides various ethical and philosophical arguments to convince the Roman emperor, Antoninus, to abandon the persecution of the Church. 


Jacques Callot, French
A bearded Justin Martyr presenting an open book to a Roman emperor, c. 1632-1635

Jacques Callot, (born March–August 1592, Nancy, France—died March 24, 1635, Nancy), French printmaker who was one of the first great artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His innovative series of prints documenting the horrors of war greatly influenced the socially conscious artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.


He learned the technique of engraving in Rome. About 1612 he went to Florence. At that time Medici patronage expended itself almost exclusively in feste, quasi-dramatic pageants, sometimes dealing in allegorical subjects, and Callot was employed to make pictorial records of these mannered, sophisticated entertainments. He succeeded in evolving a naturalistic style while preserving the artificiality of the occasion, organizing a composition as if it were a stage setting and reducing the figures to a tiny scale, each one indicated by the fewest possible strokes. This required a very fine etching technique. His breadth of observation, his lively figure style, and his skill in assembling a large, jostling crowd secured for his etchings a lasting popular influence all over Europe.

He illustrated sacred books, made a series of plates of the Apostles, and visited Paris to etch animated maps of the sieges of La Rochelle and the Île de Ré. In his last great series of etchings, the “small” (1632) and the “large” (1633) The Miseries and Misfortunes of War, he brought his documentary genius to bear on the atrocities of the Thirty Years’ War. Callot is also well known for his landscape drawings in line and wash and for his quick figure studies in chalk. More on Jacques Callot

Further, he also indicates, as St. Augustine would later, regarding the "true religion" that predated Christianity, that the "seeds of Christianity" actually predated Christ's incarnation. This notion allows him to claim many historical Greek philosophers (including Socrates and Plato), in whose works he was well studied, as unknowing Christians.

ST. JUSTIN was born of heathen parents at Neapolis in Samaria, about the year 103. He was well educated, and gave himself to the study of philosophy, but always with one object, that he might learn the knowledge of God. He sought this knowledge among the contending schools of philosophy.


Saint Justin chanced upon an old man, possibly a Syrian Christian

Some time afterwards, he chanced upon an old man, possibly a Syrian Christian, in the vicinity of the seashore, who engaged him in a dialogue about God and spoke of the testimony of the prophets as being more reliable than the reasoning of philosophers.

Moved by the aged man's argument, Justin choose to re-dedicate his life to the service of the Divine. His newfound convictions were only bolstered by the ascetic lives of the early Christians and the heroic example of the martyrs, whose piety convinced him of the moral and spiritual superiority of Christian doctrine. 

As a result, he decided that the only option for him was to travel throughout the land, spreading the knowledge of Christianity as the "true philosophy." His conversion is commonly assumed to have taken place at Ephesus though it may have occurred anywhere on the road from Syria Palestina to Rome.


Trial of Justin The Philosopher Justin Martyr

He then adopted the dress of a philosopher himself and traveled about teaching. During the reign of Antoninus Pius (138–161), he arrived in Rome and started his own school. In the reign of Marcus Aurelius, after disputing with the cynic philosopher Crescens, he was denounced by the latter to the authorities. Justin was tried, together with six companions, by Junius Rusticus, who was urban prefect from 163–167, and was beheaded. The martyrdom of Justin preserves the court record of the trial. More on Saint Justin Martyr


 Execution of St. Justin the Philosopher
Mosaic
Mount of Beatitudes, Palestine

Saint Justin Martyr's story





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