Friday 25 December 2009

Christmas Blessings


This extraordinary picture is from a Russian prayer card. I discovered it on the internet last year. It is fascinating considering the Russian Church's desire to purge itself of Western influences in the 19th century. Perhaps it has a German connection. The colours are unusual and it is possible that it could be the work of a Russian artist. Later Russian icons often had a more "representative" look, and although this is not an icon, there is something Russian about it. It speaks of a deep and simple (in the best sense) devotion, and there is an intimacy about it which certainly fits in with an aspect of Russian spirituality.
Happy Christmas!

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