Veiled Word(s) – Sacred Silence: Screening the Mystery in the Byzantine Altar

Abstract

This paper defines the Byzantine altar as a sacred space of participative performance in the mystery of the Eucharist – a paradigm of “timeless re-enactment of the Christian drama.” Reading a series of Byzantine ekphraseis, the paper addresses such concepts as inner vision (theoria), silent or secret prayer, and divine silence, which are at the very centre of the Byzantine altar. The main focus is to investigate the liminal nature of the Mystery, manifested through concealing-revealing devices, which are thresholds in the liturgical participation of the Byzantine subject. Fear and secrecy in front of the Mystery of Divine Presence are anthropological symptoms dominating the imaginary.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelImage and Altar 800‑1300. Papers from an International Conference in Copenhagen 24 October – 27 October 2007 : Publications from the National Museum Studies in Archaeology & History Vol. XX
RedaktørerPoul Grinder-Hansen
Antal sider18
UdgivelsesstedOdense
ForlagSyddansk Universitetsforlag
Publikationsdato2014
Sider27-44
ISBN (Trykt)978-87-7602-143-6
StatusUdgivet - 2014
NavnPublications of the National Museum. Studies in Archaeology & History
Vol/bind23

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