An Aesthetic Evaluation of the Iconography of Andrei Rublev

 

By Panagiotis Drakopoulos

Along with Byzantine, Russian iconography is considered the greatest artistic expression of Orthodoxy.

In its first period, during the 11th and 12th centuries, it was directly influenced by Byzantine, and many of the iconographers were Greek. The most famous work of this period is the Mother of God of Vladimir, which is considered the protecting icon of Russia.

The Era

This was followed by the period of the "Tatar Yoke", when Russia, with Kiev as its capital at the time, was conquered by the Tatars of the so-called Golden Horde. The Tatars plundered and burned palaces, mansions, monasteries and churches. Portable icons, frescoes, embroideries, small artifacts, etc. were destroyed. A struggle for Russian freedom followed, a struggle that provoked new barbarian raids.

But the Tatars often found help from Russian princes who abhorred the restoration of a unified state. At that time, which Tarkovsky so correctly depicts in his film “Andrei Rublev”, art had declined, as had all of civilization. Be aware, however: what concerns Rublev himself in the film is fictional. Tarkovsky’s Rublev is not a biography, despite the title of the film.

Synaxarion of Saint Martha, Mother of Venerable Symeon of the Wonderful Mountain

St. Martha (Feast Day - July 4)

Verses

If you neither worry nor become troubled, Martha, 
You will have everything else and the end of Martha.

This Venerable Martha practiced every kind of virtue, and while she occupied herself in the churches of God, she bore Saint Symeon from a promise. She possessed a great deal of asceticism and practiced standing; indeed, no one ever saw her sitting on Sunday, nor conversing with anyone at all. She had great love, and mercy, and humility. The feet of all foreigners she would wash and welcomed them. She clothed the naked, fed the hungry, and to those who were baptized and did not have clean shrouds to wear according to custom, she provided these shrouds. Likewise, she gave shrouds to the poor who died and had no means to be buried. She also had great faith and devotion to the Lady Theotokos, from whom she was granted to behold, before her death, the enjoyment of the heavenly good things that she was destined to receive after death.

July: Day 4: Teaching 2: Saint Martha, Mother of Venerable Symeon of the Wonderful Mountain

July: Day 4: Teaching 2:
Saint Martha, Mother of Venerable Symeon of the Wonderful Mountain

(Advice on the Religious and Moral Education of Children)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Martha, whose memory the Holy Church celebrates today, had an only son, Symeon; she brought him up, as is said in her life, with great care, and God granted her, while she was still alive, to rejoice in the holy and God-pleasing life of her son. But the time came for Martha to depart to the heavenly world, and then, on the day before her death, she was honored with the following vision. It seemed to her that she was caught up to the heights of heaven and there she saw a most wondrous and bright house, the beauty of which it is impossible to describe. And when she walked into that house and marveled at its wondrous arrangement, she suddenly saw the Most Holy Theotokos with two most radiant angels, Who said to her: "Why are you surprised?" Martha, reverently bowing to the Mother of God, answered: "I am surprised because, Lady, I have never seen such a wonderful house in all the days of my life on earth." Then the Queen of Heaven said: "What do you think, for whom is this house prepared?" - "I do not know, Lady," answered Martha. The Most Pure One continued: "Know that this rest has been prepared for you and this house was created for you by your son, and you will abide in it forever." After this, at the command of the Lady, the angels set up a wondrous throne, and the Mother of God continued: "This glory is given to you because you lived in the fear of God and in a God-pleasing manner. But do you want to see here even more glorious places?" And, having said this, she ordered Martha to follow her. And the Queen of Heaven took her to the highest heavenly places and showed her an even more wondrous and luminous house, incomparably compared to the first, the beauty of which neither the human mind can comprehend, nor can anyone's tongue utter. Here the Mother of God also said: “And your son built this house, and also laid the foundation of the third.” The day after this, blessed Martha died.

July: Day 4: Teaching 1: Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete

July: Day 4: Teaching 1:
Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete

(On How One Should Repent)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Andrew the Archbishop of Crete was born in Damascus in the 7th century and, healed of muteness after receiving the Holy Mysteries, devoted himself to reading the word of God, and at the age of 14 was received by Patriarch Sophronios into the clerical ranks of the Church of Jerusalem.* When the Arabs took the Holy City, Andrew continued to reside there. In the rank of Archdeacon, he was present at the 6th Ecumenical Synod and denounced the heretics who recognized in Christ the one divine will. Upon returning from the Synod, Andrew devoted himself to prayer and care for the poor and sick. Then, appointed Archbishop of the island of Crete (now Candia, on the Mediterranean Sea), he wisely ruled his flock, edifying them through both word and deed. Through his prayers, he saved the island from the invasion of the Saracens. Being summoned to Constantinople for ecclesiastical matters, Andrew, on his return journey, foretold that he would not see the island of Crete. Indeed, he passed away on the island of Mytilene, having not reached Crete. 

From the Heights of Holy Meteora to the Heights of Heaven: The Repose of Elder Isidoros of Barlaam

Elder Isidoros (Tsiatas) of Barlaam, former abbot of the Monastery of Barlaam in Meteora, reposed on July 2, 2025, and his funeral took place the following day on July 3. The following text was written on the day of his repose.

From the Heights of Holy Meteora to the Heights of Heaven 

 

By Dr. Haralambos M. Bousias, 
Great Hymnographer of the Church of Alexandria

A lofty stature of a virtuous life, a height of humble mindset, a height of industriousness, a height of philanthropy, a height of spirituality, a height of steadfast communication with his beloved Jesus, to whom he would turn at every moment of his life, exclaiming with admiration or perplexity to his interlocutors, "Lord, have mercy," the highly revered and now greatly mourned Elder Isidoros emerged.

The Elder of Meteora and abbot of the Monastery of Barlaam just recently ascended from the heights of Meteora to the heights of heaven.

His equal to the angels conduct granted him wings to soar and join the choir of angels, becoming a citizen of heaven.