The Pentecost and Mother of Go
The Pentecost and Mother of God MosaicDuring the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from the 5th Century AD to the fall of its capital, Constantinople, in the year 1453, many Christian churches were constructed. These churches were lavishly decorated on the interior by large mosaics, images formed by small pieces of colored glass that were affixed to the walls and ceilings, that depicted both narratives from the Bible and icons that were venerated by the faithful who believed them to have miraculous powers. Many of these narratives and icons were used to relay messages about the Christian faith to its followers through style, symbolism and underlying iconography. One church in particular, the Monastery of Hosios Loukas in Stiris, Greece, exemplifies the mosaic style of the late Byzantine period in its mosaics entitled: Pentecost and the Mother of God. This double mosaic is located on two adjacent domes in the vault of the monastery's apse. Its use of Christian symbolism and the characteristic Byzantine styles conveys to the viewer both a narrative and a depiction of an icon. The narrative recounts how Christian beliefs descended to each of the apostles from the Holy Spirit while they were gathered for the Pentecost. The ico
The symbolic purpose of the icon image, enthroned Theotokos and Child, is to serve as an existential link between the worshiper and God. The setting, or lack there of in this case, defines the aura of the scene. In the mosaic of the Theotokos and Child both Christ and the Virgin Mary are encircled in luminous golden halos atop their heads which are a symbol of godliness and their connection to Heaven. The Byzantine style to depict figures is characteristically used in this mosaic. They use symbolism and characteristic Byzantine style to delineate to the viewer both a narrative and a portrayal of an icon. Outside of the heavenly sphere are many people who render the Christian followers who have not yet received the baptism and word of God. The people are shown with the typical Byzantine large elongated eyes, geometrically patterned drapes and classical proportionate bodies but extremely elongated heads and torsos. One of the ways in which these messages were relayed to the viewer was by the use of symbolism. Mary is holding her son, Christ, sacredly in her arms while he graciously blesses the viewer with his left hand. The dove appears to be sitting on what could be either an altar or a throne. Rays of light are protruding from the dove's sphere to each of the twelve apostles' heads. It is a depiction of the twelve apostles encircled around a small round sphere containing a dove. This heavenly orb delineates the heavens and the dove seated inside of it symbolizes the Holy Spirit. In the lower of the two dome mosaics is the depiction of the Virgin Mary, often called the Theotokos, enthroned with her son, Christ.
Common topics in this essay:
Virgin Mary,
Mother God,
Century AD,
Christianity Bible,
Osios Loukas,
Christian Byzantine,
Christ Child,
Spirit Holy,
Heaven Mary,
Holy Spirit,
christian faith,
holy spirit,
mother god,
virgin mary,
pentecost mother god,
pentecost mother,
christ child,
golden halos,
sphere containing,
son christ,
monastery hosios,
monastery hosios loukas,
late byzantine period,
salvation life everlasting,
symbolism characteristic byzantine,
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