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GALLERY OF OUR ICONOGRAPHY |
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The Eastern Orthodox Church is steeped in Byzantine tradition. Architecture and iconography immediately come to mind as one recalls the rich art of the Byzantine Empire, which resulted from the blending of the naturalism and purity of the realistic features of Hellenistic culture with the mysticism and abstract elements of the East. The new art found prominent expression in the design and decoration of houses of worship of the new religion he moved the capital of his empire to the ancient city. For the structure of the new house of worship, the parishioners of the Annunciation owe a great debt of gratitude to the creativity of the designing architect. For the decoration of the interior of the church, we are grateful for the enthusiastic and skillful services of the artist Sirio Tonelli of Chicago. The building that was designed is contemporary in material and structure but truly Byzantine in spirit. Thus it was imperative to hold to our Byzantine heritage in the iconography of our Church. Happily it proved possible to do this in mosaic, thanks to the gifted artist who, well-versed in Byzantine art, designed and executed all the icons to fit harmoniously in the architectural plan of the building. The major portion of the work was finished in 1969-70. Additional mosaics in the Narthex and on the face of the balcony above the Nave completed the project in 1983.This accomplishment gives the parishioners of the Annunciation a feeling of gratification in having made a cultural contribution to our city, Atlanta, from our inheritance of the past. Of course, the Byzantine icon is intended to be a symbolic representation rather than a true portrait, and this is why it is two-dimensional and formal in style. The colors give a spiritual beauty to mosaic representations, and so we find the subtle beauty of the icons in the domed Church of the Annunciation creating an environment superbly fitted to participation in the ritual of the Eucharist. As we follow the sacred drama with its message of Redemption and Resurrection we can echo the words of St. John of Damascus and say, "The icon is a song of triumph and a revelation", for it is a beautiful element inthe experience of joyous mystery and sense of liberation which the liturgy brings to the faithful. |
