[contents week 2]

WEEK 2 - Day 3
Seeing present realities in the icon

Introduction
The expression, "I got an eye full", is similar to the well known poetry line of Gottfried Keller: "Drink, oh you eyes, what the eyelids might hold from the golden overflow of the world."  Our opened eyes are reception organs for our soul so that in looking we are able to receive.  This is a strange thought for many people.  We frequently pray with our eyes closed forgetting that the opened eyes are an organ of reception for the soul.  When pictures truly communicate a spiritual truth they penetrate the soul deeply.  In this way the word interprets and supplements the picture.  Here we supplement what has already occurred to each individual in their meditation on the Trinity icon with a quote from the above mentioned art historian, Victor Lasarew, who devoted such great love to the Rublev icon:
Rublev painted his most famous work, Trinity, while at the peak of his creative power... In all probability the date of this painting was 1411... . When reflected on during long, intensive meditation Rublev's Trinity  shows neither movement nor action.  The three angels sit on low stools in deep silence.  Their heads are slightly bowed, their gaze directed into the distance...In the center of the icon is the vessel with the head of the sacrificed animal  . .  The vessel is to be considered as an image of the Eucharist.  The hands of the middle and left angels bless the vessel.  The gestures provide the key in order to understand the symbolism.  The middle angel is Christ.  In a reflective posture with his head bowed toward the left, he blesses the vessel and expresses thereby his readiness to offer himself.  God the Father (the left angel), whose face expresses deep sorrow, encourages him.  The Holy Spirit (the right Angel) witnesses the scene... as "Comforter".  So here...the greatest Sacrifice of love is depicted...(and) the Son declares himself ready to atone for the sins of humankind... When one contemplates the Trinity  in greater depth, one is surprised above all by the unusual spiritual quality of the angels... (however,) the most wonderful part of the icon is its color.  It effects the viewer, above all, through the incomparable tone of its colors.  One could describe the range of colors in the Trinity  , as "hospitable" because with rare persuasive power they bring to expression the hospitable harmony of the three angels.  Rublev painted his icon in one of those fortunate moments of inspiration which are bestowed only upon a few.  He was able to create a work that is rightly viewed as the most beautiful Russian icon and as one of the most accomplished creations of all paintings of the Middle Ages .

Exercice
- Andrei Rublev - The Trinity  (Meditation on picture)
Wait for what "speaks" to you from the visual reality of the icon and in contemplation inhale this reality into yourself.  Ponder, look and breathe and let yourself be permeated more and more...

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