Zooming Icons
Karyn Planett
Archangelsk, Russia 2013
Spiritual awakenings are hard to come by, especially for someone like me. But, there I was standing in the presence of gilded Russian icons that seemingly spoke to only me. Others were shuffling past to light candles, offer up silent prayers, or learn of the iconographic history dating back to the year 988 when, according to our guide Tatiana, the pagan Rus converted to Christianity. Created according to strict church standards, these portrayals of Saints, Martyrs and Prophets serve to spread the message of the church.
To me, the images seem to be released from their bonds and literally floated in space.