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tradition, symbolizes the Church’s journey towards the ultimate fulfillment. The presence of the dome signifies the Church’s anticipation of the Kingdom, with Christ as the resurrected and kingly Lord, sur- rounded by the communion of Saints.
In essence, the iconography of wall-paintings and the architectural elements in Orthodox tradition point towards a future reality beyond the temporal and the perishable. These sacred artworks serve as spiritual gateways, inviting believers to participate in the eschatological hope of God’s Kingdom. By em- bracing a symbolic language that transcends histor- ical limitations, Orthodox iconography and architec- ture offer a profound contemplation of the divine reality and the ultimate destiny of humankind.
In the realm of art, a wondrous shift takes place, From a skilled artist to an iconographer’s embrace, Interpreting Resurrection’s joy in unique refrain, Where all is aglow with boundless gain.
Our theology is not protological but eschatologi- cal. Nostalgia for the Land of the Living is nostalgia inspired by the future. Eschatological nostalgia is not a romantic craving for the past, as in Hellenistic and Hindu religions which, as Eliade put it, were “pris- oners of their own archetypal intuitions.”
“God wants to appeal to man through the beauty of nature,” my spiritual father would say with a sigh as he observed the landscapes he traveled through. This love of nature and the geographical environ- ment should never turn into the worship of aesthetic illusion. Still, we have the aesthetic capacity to ap- preciate the beauty of nature. Simply put, the won- ders and magnificence of the natural world serve as
a means through which humans can connect with the divine and gain a deeper understanding of God’s existence, creativity, and love. This concept can be found in various religious scriptures and philosoph- ical writings. For example, in Christianity, the Bible mentions in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” This verse highlights how the splendor and order of the natural world point to the greatness and majesty of the Creator.
While not all individuals interpret nature’s beau- ty as evidence of God’s existence, for many, it serves as a source of spiritual inspiration and a reminder of the profound interconnectedness of all life. It can be a catalyst for prayer, meditation, and a deeper spiri- tual connection, allowing people to find solace and meaning in the midst of the natural world.
A boat trip at night to the beautiful island of Ydra in the Aegean Sea. Traveling at sea at night, with the moonlight reflecting on the calm water that shone like a silvery mirror. You would think you are looking at perfect beauty. However, when one feels an incur- able sentiment caused by such beauties of nature, then one should remember that we can never be sat- isfied with the beauty of the world. Maybe it affects us, but we thirst for other, heavenly beauties.
Abba Justin of Chelije, sitting outside in the mon- astery courtyard, admired the beauty of God’s cre- ation . . . He said, looking at the flowers in the court- yard, bugs, butterflies, birds, lambs: “Look at all these miracles that God created! Without all this beauty, even paradise would be an unappealing place.”
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