Georgi Sviridov. “Icon”

As “Holy Love” was so well-received, here is a similar piece by the same composer. It is sung by the Smolny Chamber Chorus and the Boy’s Choir of the Glinka Choral School with mezzo-soprano soloist Sofia Gvirts, and the ensemble is directed by Vladimir Begletsov. Please, note that the piece does not really take off until 47 seconds into the video.

Only someone who lived through the era of the repressions could have written such soulful music. Beauty may not save the world, but, it is certainly the voice of its essence.

The Union of Orthodox Citizens Urges Believers Not To Be Afraid Of “Healthy Beauty”

Svetlana Medvedeva (1965- ), wife of President Dmitri Medvedev, a woman who is both outwardly-beautiful and a deeply-believing Orthodox Christian

The Union of Orthodox Citizens (SPG) commented on news that the Vatican issued a New Year’s calendar with “glamorous” priests by saying that Orthodox calendars should depict beautiful people and believers should not be afraid of being considered “glamorous”. “It’s a fact that good-looking people are chosen to be in the calendar, it’s completely natural. They don’t say it, but, Orthodox publications have the same policy. It’s can’t be otherwise!” Kirill Frolov, the head of the Moscow division of the SPG told Interfax-Religion.

He also reminded us that there is “a wonderful Orthodox school of painting where the techniques of iconography and portraiture are mutually complimentary. For example, the portraits of the Holy Fathers of the Sobor of 1917-18 painted by Pavel Korin show that a reflective person leading a spiritual life is transfigured in appearance. We need contemporary Pavel Korins working in the fields of photography, computer graphics, and cinema art”, Mr Frolov said.

In his opinion, “‘Orthodox beauty’ is necessary from the ascetic viewpoint, as many people run to the Church, not because they love Christ and the truth, but, due to their inability to realise themselves in life and creative work and they are envious of the success of others. These people kick talented and confident young people out of the Church and they disguise their jealousy and envy in false ‘spirituality’ and ‘zeal for Orthodox tradition’, which is, in fact, their morbid introversion, marginality, and wretchedness. The Church teaches that envy is a terrible sin; it’s a pathway to murder, revolutions, and atheism”.

1 December 2008

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=27555