Emanuela at Prayer

by Sarah Loft

Title

Emanuela at Prayer

Artist

Sarah Loft

Medium

Photograph - Digitally Painted Photograph

Description

This digital painting began as a photograph taken in Romania in 1995 at the women's monastic town of Agapia. It was the day of the Feast of Transfiguration and pilgrims came for services in a church on a hill dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. As the church was full to overflowing, individuals found places in the surroundings to kneel or prostrate in prayer.

Agapia is a collection of women's monasteries or houses under the rule of a single abbess who resides at the main (and largest) monastic house. There are some 400 nuns in residence and the town includes several churches and chapels, cemeteries, a retirement home (for elderly nuns), workshops where vestments and altar coverings are intricately embroidered and where beautiful floral carpets are hand tied, a guest house, a farm, gardens, a couple of museums and so on.

The monastery was founded as a male monastery in the 14th century. The institution grew through a number of grants from various kings of Moldavia. The main complex was built between 1641 and 1643. There have been a number of major renovations over the centuries. The icon work in the main church was done between 1858 and 1861 by Nicolae Grigorescu. The Church of the Transfiguration (on the hill, the center of attention when this photo was taken) is a contemporary building of red wood constructed in a traditional Romanian style.

Note: The watermark will not appear on the print you purchase.

Featured in the Christian Theme Artwork Group, August 2016.

Featured in the Orthodox Christian Beauty group, August 2016.

Featured in the Images That Excite You group, August 2016.

Uploaded

August 22nd, 2016

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags