Real Presence: In Seach of the Earliest Icons

by Wendy Beckett

This is a powerful devotional study of all existing pre-Iconoclastic icons that are still readable. In "Encounters with God Sister", Wendy Beckett traveled to remote churches and monasteries to view the earliest icons of Mary. In "Real Presence", she resumes this journey to see additional early icons of Jesus and the saints - icons that are among the few to survive the wholesale destruction of icons in the early eighth century. In contrast with the familiar and magnificent icons of later history, these early icons have a haunting simplicity and unfamiliar spiritual power. They come to us from a time closer to that of Christ, when faith was still alive with wonder and possibilities, and these images, a vehicle for prayer, can truly convey his real presence. Sister Wendy journeys to the heart of the great treasure-house of pre-Iconoclastic icons at Mt. Sinai to celebrate its unique historical and spiritual value, and to reveal the spirituality and devotional practices of our ancestors. Prayerful and heartfelt, "Real Presence" offers everyone 'a taste of the spiritual happiness that is there for the asking, for the seeking, for attention'.

Genres: Christianity, Art, Christian Non Fiction

140 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2008

About the author

Sister Wendy Beckett was a South African-born British art expert, Roman Catholic nun, and contemplative hermit who became an unlikely celebrity during the 1990s, presenting a series of acclaimed art history documentaries for the BBC.

Reviews

[Ray LaManna]

A good overview of some of the most ancient icons extant in the Christian Church... some of the reproductions were a bit obscure but overall a good book...the late Sister Wendy's commentary was personal and very helpful.

[Michelle]

Reading her thoughts on these Early Christian works, I found her comments helpful since I am not of a faith that makes use of icons in worship. I was interested more so by this early artistic application toward worship. To quote Sister Wendy loosely, "The icon is as functional as a pen or a bicycle; which are of no use whatsoever until you employ them for their purpose." She would say the icon's purpose is not to glorify artist or subject matter as much as to facilitate one's spiritual attention God-ward. It was worth reading artistically and in understanding other Christian brethren, spiritually.

[Thadeus]

My introduction to icons. The first book I've read on the subject. Very struck by the icon of "Christ Pantocrator" discussed on page 23. It seemed to me a good introduction to icons in general and the interpretation of several different icons. Glad that I purchased it.

Recommended.