I included this rather poor quality picture in my prayers on the Assumption because it was taken in the lower portion of the church of the Dormition of Mary, when Mary fell asleep. There is disagreement in the eastern and western rite churches as to whether Mary fell asleep or died, but both agree that she was assumed into heaven. There is also a theory that Mary spent her last years somewhere else besides Jerusalem where this church honors her.
What you really can't see in the picture is the gold leaf that adorns the image of Mary. Her face is the pale oval as though she were laying there for us to view her. Since she is in heaven there is nothing to see except the artist rendering of her. Gold leaf, mosaic tiles, flowers decorate this place in honor of the Mother of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment