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Archive · Architecture · Faith · Heritage · Humour
When anyone begins to praise Metlakh tiles to excess, remember this passage from the report of the architect-restorer Pyotr Pokryshkin to the Imperial Archaeological Commission on his inspection of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery of Zvenigorod…
“I found the painting of the monastery's bell tower complete. To my great regret, the painting has been done in oil paints in the former pale pink, banal colour, without the permission of the consistory, and consequently before the Commission's opinion was received. Having learnt from
Faith · Monarchies · Society · People
Napoleon and Jewish emancipation in Europe, reforms and restrictions
Do you know why Heine so loved Napoleon? Besides the spirit of the French Revolution, with whose grandeur the name of Bonaparte was invariably associated, it was precisely thanks to Napoleon that the movement for Jewish emancipation rose throughout Europe. He is often called the liberator of the Jews. What
NB! · Archive · Faith · Art
Design for a cavalry standard from the time of the English Civil War, depicting the Catholic Church as a many-headed monster
Design for a cavalry standard from the time of the English Civil War, depicting the Catholic Church as a many-headed monster. This Gorynych wears a papal tiara on one head, a scarlet cardinal's galero on another, the black birettas of the common clergy on the rest and,
Archaeology · Faith · The East · Art
Excavations of the Sphinx from Thutmose IV to 1925 and Elihu Vedder's painting
Created in 2500 BC, already within the first millennium of his long life the Sphinx had sunk into the sand up to his shoulders. Time and again attempts were made to dig him out: the majestic sentinel of the pharaohs buried nearby was cleared both by Thutmose IV in the
Architecture · Faith · Art · Observations · People · Rome
Pierre Le Gros’s Statue of Stanislaus Kostka in the Church of Saint Andrew on the Quirinal, Rome
This sculpture, the equal of Bernini's finest works and a flawless example of Roman Baroque, was made in 1703 by the Frenchman Pierre Le Gros: a sculpted portrait of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, the blessed patron of Poland and of lay servants of the Church. It is not the
NB! · Faith · Observations
Though, to be fair, the infant Jesus is quite simply my favourite hero of world culture
Faith · Books · Observations · People
Russian translations of Robert Southwell's poems and his Christmas poem “The Burning Babe”
I have a naive but perfectly achievable wish: that good, true translations of the English poet and saint Robert Southwell might at last be published in Russian. It is hard to find an author who describes the Christian universe so eloquently and uplifts the spirit so, or who conveys metaphysical
Faith · Society · Rome
Pope Francis Recited the Angelus Alone on St Stephen's Day Under Italy's Lockdown
Pope Francis today, for the first time as far as I can remember, recited the Angelus on the Feast of Saint Stephen alone, in support of Italy's lockdown measures. Traditionally, after Christmas, Catholics honour Stephen, the martyr stoned to death in the very first persecutions of the Christians.
NB! · Faith · Art · Museums · New York
Madonna and Child, Andrea della Robbia, 1470–1475
Madonna and Child, Andrea della Robbia, 1470–1475. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Della Robbia made a good many different sculptures of the Virgin, but this one draws the eye because above Mary and Jesus the Lord Himself keeps a solicitous watch, surrounded by angels
Faith · Science · Society
Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland signs open letter against vaccination
An open letter by Catholic bishops against vaccination has appeared online. Of course, the letter of 12 December bears the signatures of only a small group of far-right Catholic figures, yet not only the church leadership but perhaps even some secular authorities ought to look closely at this démarche.
Faith · Art · Observations · Rome
Ceramic nativity scene by Castelli artisans in Saint Peter's Square in 2020
In St Peter's Square the Christmas tree has been lit and the crib unveiled, which, all in all, has become one more unexpected gesture from Pope Francis. Never before has the Nativity scene been presented in such implausible figures. If I am honest, only the ram in this