Basil and Desmond on Wonder and the Astonishing Return of Christian Metaphysics
Citation:
Katsos IC. Basil and Desmond on Wonder and the Astonishing Return of Christian Metaphysics. Astonishment and Science: Engagements with William Desmond. 2022.
On the eastern part of the Greek island of Crete, in the semi-arid area of Lasithi, lies the old monastery of Toplou. The monastery hosts the unique icon Megas ei Kyrie (“Great are you, O Lord”), written on wood by Ioannis Kornaros in 1770.1 The name of the icon is not that of a person but of a doxological praise; this in itself is indicative of a very unusual theme. The central motif is the baptism of Christ, which is celebrated in the East on the feast of Theophany (January 6). Upon closer inspection, the central motif is placed between heaven (the Trinity and the angels) and earth (Mary with the Christ Child, Adam and Eve), whereas the descent of Christ into the underworld is depicted at the bottom of the icon. Fifty-seven episodes from the Old and the New Testaments surround the central motif on the right and on the left, all connected by running waters. The total of sixtyone motifs are enumerated by the artist and glossed by headings, which faithfully reproduce the verses of the Theophany Poem, attributed to the Patriarch Sophrony of Jerusalem. The poem contains the prayer Megas ei Kyrie (“Great are you, O Lord”), which is the central liturgical event of the
Contact Details
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Zografou, 157 72 Athens (+30) 210-7275783 ickatsos@theol.uoa.gr
