Franciscan at Home

Forming those who form others

Art Notes: Coptic Icon of Pentecost

In this issue we continue our study of the artwork in The Compendium, and consider the Coptic "Icon of Pentecost" to be found at the beginning of Part four on ‘Christian Prayer’. The Coptic Church is the Christian Church in Egypt. Christianity was brought to Egypt by the Evangelist, St. Mark, the first bishop of Alexandria. Later the Coptic Church became separated from Rome but in 1741, the Coptic bishop, Athanasius, became reconciled to the Catholic Church and formed the Coptic Catholic Church in full communion with Rome. This Church has survived and flourished, though it comprises only a tiny minority in a largely Muslim country.

Pentecost (Greek: fiftieth day) was originally the name given to the Jewish Feast of Weeks, when the first fruits of the harvest were offered to the Lord. It took place fifty days after the Passover. (Deut.16:9). For Christians, however, Pentecost is the Feast that marks the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, fifty days after Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The event is described in Acts 2: 1-41.

The rest of this online article is available for current Guild members.

Join the Guild today!

Dr. Lionel Gracey is an international speaker and writer on art and Catholicism, and a Fellow of Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, UK.

This article is from The Sower and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of Maryvale Institute. Contact [email protected]

Categorized Under

Categorized Under:

Catechizing with Art

Issue:

29.2

Articles from the Most Recent Issue

Children's Catechesis — “Help Me to Come to God…By Myself!” The Need for the Child’s Independent Work in Catechesis

Those who have children and those who teach children have firsthand experience of the child’s need to do his own work. The very young child expresses this need quite bluntly: “I do it!” As the child matures, the expression becomes more nuanced and polite: “May I try?” In what appears to be a regression, the adolescent expresses the same need,... Read more

Encountering God in Catechesis — From Pain to Planting Seeds

Last year was one of the most difficult years of my life. It was my first year as a theology teacher, and even though I had been well prepared through my secondary education program and ministry experience, I was not prepared for the constant criticism and judgment I would receive from my coworkers. These comments filled my mind with self-doubt,... Read more

A Spirituality of Action: Christ’s Apostolic Model of Contemplation and Action

The Church exists for the purpose of sharing the Gospel and inviting the whole world to salvation and relationship in Christ. Consequently, “a Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate,” that is, a call to mission. [1] Many are enthused to receive such a dignified call, but these sentiments are not self-sustaining. The enormity... Read more

About Franciscan Catechetics

The Catechetics Degree Programs and the Catechetical Institute (CI) at Franciscan University of Steubenville work in concert to prepare clergy, religious and laity to join the “army of catechists” called for by St. John Paul II, eager to help the Church in her mission of making all nations joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. We combine a thorough formation in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Magisterial documents with training in effective pedagogical techniques to help those we serve to grasp the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Father’s plan, and to bear witness to others faithfully of the wonderful life of grace in the Holy Spirit.

Designed & Developed by On Fire Media, Inc.

Valodas