Faith · Art · Science · Nature

The Prophet Jonah and the Whale

The Prophet Jonah and the whale. By Tommaso di Antonio Finiguerra, an artist of the early Italian Renaissance and the Florentine school. It is curious that, in place of a whale, Finiguerra drew the heraldic dolphin of Florence, enlarged to improbable dimensions. As for the likelihood of surviving inside the

Faith · Art · Museums

The Kostroma Museum-Reserve holds an interesting collection of carved icons, among them this highly detailed Last Judgement of the 19th century

Jesus is seated upon a blue sphere. At the centre is the Etimasia, the judgement throne, where souls will be judged. At the right hand of Christ are the righteous, making their way into the garden of Paradise with the Mother of God and the saints. At the left hand

Faith · Art · Museums

“Maiden on the Beast” by Natalya Goncharova from the “Harvest” polyptych and the Apocalypse

The Maiden on the Beast. Natalia Goncharova. 1911. Kostroma Museum-Reserve collection; the painting is on permanent display at the Romanov Museum. "The Maiden on the Beast" is part of the nine-part polyptych "The Harvest", whose paintings are now held in different collections, while two

NB! · Faith · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

I don't know which musical event is on in Kostroma just now, but on a tour of the Ipatiev Monastery I bumped into Sergey Shnurov

NB! · Faith

Trinity Lavra of St Sergius

Faith · Heritage · Society

Cages of the executed leaders of the Münster Rebellion on the tower of St Lambert’s Church

For almost 500 years now, three iron cages, each weighing two hundred kilograms, have hung from the bell tower of St Lambert's Church in Germany. In them the bodies of the executed leaders of the Münster Rebellion of 1534-1535 were put on public display. The Anabaptist uprising,

NB! · Faith · Art · People

On his portrait of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg as Saint Jerome, surrounded by animals, Lucas Cranach hung on the wall a Madonna and Child from his own brush

Faith · Monarchies · Mores · Saint Petersburg

A noblewoman petitioned the Virgin Mary against Catherine II, and the Empress returned her estate

At one solemn service Catherine II saw a woman fall to her knees before an icon of the Mother of God and throw a paper on the floor. When the paper was picked up, it turned out to be a complaint against the Empress, addressed to the Mother of God

Architecture · Faith · London · Observations · Heritage

Former chapel of a psychiatric hospital in Redbridge becomes a swimming pool

In England, the problem of preserving an abandoned church has been solved in its own way: a swimming pool and a gym have opened inside a Victorian church. Repton Park in Redbridge is considered one of the most beautiful swimming pools in London. In 1892 the site was occupied by

Archaeology · Faith · Monarchies · Museums

Bronze crown found at Mill Hill in Kent in 1988 may have been a druid's headdress

Britain's Oldest Crown Belonged to a Druid, Not a Monarch. The bronze crown in the collection of the British Museum dates from the second century BC. It is made of bronze and was found at Mill Hill in the county of Kent in 1988. One of the richest

Faith · London · Monarchies · Observations · Society

Charles III's decree and the use of the form Queen Consort for Camilla

From 6 May 2023, prayers for members of the English royal family, and forms of address to them, are to be amended so that the words "Camilla, Queen Consort" give way to "Queen Camilla" A favourite subject for Camilla's opponents and Diana's

Faith · London · Monarchies · Society

Ordination of women in Christian churches and the service for Charles III in Britain

Representatives of Britain's Christian Churches after the service of prayer for King Charles III. Two women are present in the photograph. The ordination of women, that is, their elevation to holy orders, is a matter of debate in many Christian Churches, chiefly among the Protestants. At present the