Beholding the sacred mysteries
Subtitle: programs of the Byzantine sanctuary
By: Sharon E.J. Gerstel.
Series: Monograph on the fine arts ;; 56; Monographs on the fine arts ;; 56.
Publisher: College Art Association in association with Universary of Washington Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Seattle
Language: eng
Number of pages: 213
Subjects: Sacred space -- Macedonia (Republic); Architecture, Byzantine -- Macedonia (Republic); Christian art and symbolism -- Macedonia (Republic) -- Medieval, 500-1500.
Description: Sharon Gerstel evokes a wide range of written and painted sources in order to analyze the decoration of the Byzantine sanctuary from the perspective of its contemporary viewer, from monk to liturgical celebrant, from bishop to lay worshipper. In a new presentation of the sanctuary program, the author reveals to the modern reader what was and is manifest only to the clergy.

In order to fully understand and appreciate the sanctuary decoration, twenty-seven churches spanning three hundred years (1028-1328) from the area known as Macedonia are catalogued and discussed. The first to present this region in its entirety, this study reveals programs of superior ecclesiastical decoration and demonstrates how innovative approaches to Christian iconography were shared among painters.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-130) and index.