The first rays of sunlight on walls within the monastery, and the mountains beyond.
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The humidity in the air from rain the previous day causes a small cloud to form for just a moment at dawn.
The first rain of the season cleared the air, and the next morning, we had beautiful cloud formations. Just at sunrise, a dove flew up and perched on the cross at the top of the bell tower.
An ornate silver icon lamp, as a new day begins to arrive in the long morning service.
With the approach of winter, the sun’s rays enter the church at an increasing slant.
The facade of the south wing has been renovated. We now need to continue with the renovation of the rooms on the west side.
The tower of the south wing in the early morning sunlight.
For a few moments, the ridge of mountains that lead over to the Chapel of Saints Galakteon and Episteme have passed into shadow, while the mountains behind still reflect the light of the setting sun.
At the conclusion of one homily, the scribe has carefully formed the text to make a cross, which contains these luminous words, May we find to perfection the things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, which God hath prepared for them that love Him, to attain, all of us, to that which is now and shall be hereafter, by the grace and love for man of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, honour, and dominion, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. And the scribe has drawn out the ‘Amen’, connecting the letters with ornamented lines, and adding a leaf at either end, to form a decorative border. Greek 401 is a manuscript of the Spiritual Homilies of Saint Theodore the Studite. Almost every homily begins with the words, Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ Πατέρες, ‘Brothers and Fathers’. Throughout the manuscript, the opening decorative initial is an alpha. Some of these are of a knotted interlace filled with yellow, red, and blue pigment.
In others, the scribe created an alpha by depicting a bird grasping a column.
In others, the alpha is formed by intertwined serpents.
Inevitably, the bird and the snakes face off. In this initial, the bird has sprouted teeth and is attacking the serpent.
But this is not always the case. The serpent also has his day.
Scholars feel that the manuscript was written in Southern Italy, most probably Rossano. |
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