#orthodoxe

Marseille, le MuCEM et sa nouvelle collection permanente (à mes yeux, bien plus intéressante et mieux présentée que la précédente...)

Il y aura un nombre important de billets !!! La suite en deux fois prochaines...

carnets en papier mâché laqué - Russie, fin XIXe, fin XXe s.

éventail liturgique - Grèce, fin XIXe s. ; enseigne de procession pour Pâques, le visage du Christ sur le voile de Véronique - France, début XXe s.

boîtes en papier mâché laqué - Russie, fin XIXe, fin XXe s.

retable, Saint Georges terrassant le Dragon - Grèce, fin XXe s.

Alexandre Nevsky, héros national russe, prince du XIIIème siècle victorieux des Suédois puis des Teutons, initiateur de l'hégémonie de la Russie, fut canonisé trois siècles plus tard. Par la suite, de nombreuses églises Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky essaiment de par le monde, là où une diaspora russe est implantée. Ce fut le cas à Paris en 1861. 

Projetée depuis 1847 par l'aumônier de l'ambassade de Russie en France, elle ne fut finalement mise en chantier que dix ans plus tard, avec l'accord de Napoléon III -en partie financée par le tsar Alexandre II- au nord-ouest de Paris, où résident alors environ un millier de slaves émigrés. En 1922, l'église devient cathédrale, siège d'un diocèse de "Russes blancs", fuyant la Révolution d'Octobre (1917), ayant trouvé à Paris asile et protection. Son style byzantino-moscovite (d'inspiration moscovite à l'extérieur, de rattachement byzantin à l'intérieur), au plan en croix grecque dûe à l'architecte Roman Kouzmine, offre au flâneur curieux un dépaysement de bon aloi en ce quartier du nord du 8ème arrondissement, où consulats et ambassades pullulent... Son iconostase (clôture de chœur emplie d'icônes) présente des fresques réputées du peintre Sorokine. Sa crypte, quant à elle, accueille la paroisse de la "Très Sainte Trinité", première paroisse orthodoxe de langue française.

Chaque abside terminant les branches de la croix grecque formant le plan de l'édifice est surmontée d'une tourelle se terminant par une "chatior" (flèche) symbolisant le Christ et les quatre Évangélistes. Chacune est ornée d'un bulbe doré aboutissant à une croix russe à huit branches, dont la centrale couronne l'édifice à 48 mètres de hauteur. 

St John -the- Merciful

Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, was born on Cyprus in the seventh century into the family of the illustrious dignitary Epiphanius. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage and had children. When the wife and the children of the saint died, he became a monk. He was zealous in fasting and prayer, and had great love for those around him.

His spiritual exploits won him honor among men, and even the emperor revered him. When the Patriarchal throne of Alexandria fell vacant, the emperor Heraclius and all the clergy begged Saint John to occupy the Patriarchal throne.

The saint worthily assumed his archpastoral service, concerning himself with the moral and dogmatic welfare of his flock. As patriarch he denounced every soul-destroying heresy, and drove out from Alexandria the Monophysite Phyllonos of Antioch...continue reading OCA

Venerable Nilus the Faster of Sinaï

Saint Nilus the Faster of Sinai, a native of Constantinople, lived during the fifth century and was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. Having received a fine education, the saint was appointed to the important post of prefect of the capital while still a young man. During this period, Nilus was married and had children, but the pomp of courtly life bothered the couple. Saint John Chrysostom exerted a tremendous influence upon their lives and their strivings. The spouses decided to separate and devote themselves to the monastic life.

The wife and daughter of Nilus went to one of the women’s monasteries in Egypt, and Saint Nilus and his son Theodulus went to Sinai, where they settled in a cave dug out by their own hands. For forty years this cave served as the dwelling of Saint Nilus. By fasting, prayer and works, the monk attained a high degree of spiritual perfection. People began to come to him from every occupation and social rank from the emperor down to the farmer, and each found counsel and comfort from the saint..continue reading

Colossians 2:20. 3:3  (NKJV)

20 [a] Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

3:3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Footnotes:

Colossians 2:20 NU, M omit Therefore

Luke 14: 25-25 (NKJV)

Leaving All to Follow Christ

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the [a]dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Footnotes:

Luke 14:35 rubbish heap