Portrait medallion of the Prophet Hosea from the sixth century Sinai apse mosaic.
The prophet Hosea lived at a time when faith had grown weak. He recalled the sojourn in the wilderness with longing. It had been a time when the children of Israel were close to God, when He had dwelt tangibly in their midst. In prophetic vision he foretold the day when, again, God would bring Israel into the wilderness, ‘as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt’ (Hosea 2:15), where the covenantal alliance would be reconsecrated.
Monks of Sinai enter into this eschatological age by anticipation.
Dear Father Justin,
Thank you for the photo of the icon.
Would the icon date to the initial construction of the monastery? Where would the iconographers have come from?
With best regards,
Richard
The mosaic dates from the fourteenth indiction. Indictions were cycles, and thus there are several possibilities, but the most likely is AD 565. Roberto Nardi and his team of conservators recently carried out a major program to consolidate and clean and conserve the mosaic. From their detailed study, they became convinced that it is the work of artisans from Constantinople. The portrait medallions of the apostles around the arch, and the prophets around the base, are each very striking and individualized. An examination of the mosaic up close reveals surprising colour juxtapositions, that the artisans knew would blend together when the mosaic was seen from a distance. Every detail is a source of wonder.
Father Justin this picture is so stunning. I read in your comment about how it was restored recently. I was wondering about that as the color was so vivid. How amazing it is to have such gifts even to see even once. I pray that in my small way I join in that anticipation. To that end I think of you all. ❤️
When you look at an old icon, you always wonder, Is this what it looked like originally? Have the pigments faded? Has the varnish darkened? But a mosaic is made of tiny pieces of glass and marble, and if these are cleaned, there can be no doubt that this is what it looked like when it was first installed — in this case, in the middle of the sixth century.
Dear Father Justin, we appreciate you for that great Labor. This photograph surprised me . I have never seen this icon .
Thanks again for the precious information about it .