This series of articles offers a look at Greece through a
tourist's eyes and a Christian's heart. Pastor Aderman
traveled in Greece during January 2001.
The ancient Greek Christians picked much different subject matter for
religious art than we're used to seeing on church walls.
Last January I visited a monastery in central Greece, a placed called
Meteora. It dates from the 9th century. This monastery was one of a
number in the area that was built atop unscalable butte-like rocks that
tower several hundred feet above the valley. It served (and still
serves) a small community of monks.
Their closet-sized chapel (seating for 15-20) houses beautiful frescoes
that climb the walls and stretch across the ceiling. Though painted over
a millennium ago, the full color drawings still retain their vigor. As
one might expect in a Greek Orthodox Church - because of its emphasis on
icons - the paintings depict special saints. What I didn't expect was
what the saints were doing - or, more properly, what was being done to
them.
Picture after picture showed saints in the process of martyrdom. There
were Christians being pulled apart on a rack. Others were being sawed in
half. There were believers about to be welcomed into heaven after having
their hands and feet amputated. Others of the faithful were being
eviscerated, burned, and buried alive.
At first I was bemused at the strangeness of such gory art on the walls
of a church. But that quickly changed to shock at the apparent
blasphemy. It was only after some minutes that the intended spiritual
impact began to settle in.
In chapter eleven of Hebrews the writer recounts a long list of saints
who suffered for their faith (including some who were martyred). Then he
urges, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let
us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"
(12:1).
These paintings were daily reminders to the monks of the price other
saints gratefully paid because their Savior died for them. They were
encouragements that since others - empowered by the Spirit - had
remained faithful to Jesus in the most severe circumstances, those monks
could as well.
That's also a good reminder for me - and probably you. No matter what
the issues that I face (the temptations, the fears, the frustrations,
the confusion), other Christians have faced similar and greater
problems. Other believers have overcome in Jesus' power to forgive,
rescue, and transform.
Listen. The witnesses are testifying. In Scripture. From history. In
your life today. And from some church walls. They are pointing to Jesus.
They are saying along with the writer to the Hebrews, "Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart" (12:2,3).
James Aderman is pastor of Fairview Lutheran in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He is also the editor of LivingBold.
Consider what it means to have that great cloud of witnesses to
encourage us in our walk with Jesus by clicking here and going on to Deeper Thoughts.
