(Remember if you click on the pictures you will get a larger picture to see things in more detail)
As Monday dawned bright and clear here in the Eastern Mediterranean, we looked forward to our first Green or Clean Monday. We had been invited to visit the village of Nissou which is about half an hour from our flat just outside Nicosia along the motorway.
We followed the detailed directions and turned into a small street to see our host, Nanette (our curriculum consultant at the Academy who is married to a Cypriot), waving wildly to attract our attention. Besides Nanette and Christos there was a large friendly dog, tied up to keep his distance and two beautiful little twin girls aged 7 - Elia and Miriam.
Soon we were on our way to a local hilltop which gave us a splendid view of the countryside for miles in every direction! To the north the mountainous spine of Cyprus which runs along the northern shore stood in majestic grandeur. Apart, that is, from the political statement made by the Turkish Cypriot flag which is prominently displayed in white and red stones on the hillside. To the west the Troodos mountains where we have enjoyed some wonderful tours on weekends.
The hilltop was to be the municipality’s venue for this celebration. They had put out tables and chairs for hundreds and then were dispensing free beans and bread for any and all - provided by a local caterer. Some came to set up barbecues to broil octopus and that fragrance was borne by the breeze across the fields. Others were setting out for their picnic lunch the ‘greens’ that they had brought or picked in the field - no meat on this day!
Our hosts and one set of grandparents (both had only completed education to the third and fourth grades but had lived very productive lives) had come well prepared with cooked beets, cooked potatoes, raw artichoke, pickled vegetables, pickalili (a British mustard style pickle), terramosalata (guess what that might be), black, green and Kalamata olives, hummus, tahini, tomatoes, cucumbers, kohlrabi, halva, broad beans, lettuce greens, breads, cauliflower with a salad dressing of some sort, cooked beans. What a cornucopia of food leaving all with full stomachs as we leaned back and allowed the sun to warm our satiated bodies.
Then it was off to fly kites on the strengthening breeze leaving the sky polka-dotted with kites of all sorts.
I did some exploring of an ancient underground church and its more recent replacement. The former gives us a hint of the danger in pursuing faith so prevalent throughout history and the latter the beauty which comes from freedom to worship unrestricted.
A pleasant day was had by all!
Thursday evening Marian and I ventured to the nearby St. Nicholas Church where we entered the church hall to join perhaps 35 who shared an interest in knowing more about this ancient form of worship. When I juxtapose the educational level of those mentioned previously and the churches desire to make sure that their parishioners know the Scriptural stories, we see icons have a place. This is an art form which has two additional prior and continuing medium - mosaics being the earliest and later frescos. Although the time periods of each of these overlap somewhat, there is a chronology from fixed art to that which is portable. Father John reiterated what he had told me in person that his own grandmother could neither read nor write but understood the Gospel through the various icons.
The explanation demonstrated the differences between western perspectives on Biblical stories and that of the iconographers - such contrast would take up many pages and proved interesting to see and hear. Just one small example. The resurrection in western art is usually pictured as a triumphant Christ in some heroic manner whereas the iconic representation is Christ standing on the gates of Hell and lifting Adam and Eve (representative of humanity) from the grips of Hell. Surrounding the rescuing Christ are those to whom He preached while in the grave.
After a cup of cherry tea, a tour of the church’s unfinished art work allowed us to see the depth of meaning which is constantly before worshippers in this church. The unfinished sections speak to the great effort needed to do this artwork and the great costs associated with the artist whom they consider the best in Cyprus.
As we walked home in the cool night air, we were thankful for our heritage in faith and yet realize that ours is one of many expressions of the Christian truth centered on the person of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour!
Be thankful for your experiences and do not let jealousy creep in. We do have our challenges!
David
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 6:33 AM
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