Tag Archives: religion

Divine Women by the (almost) divine Bettany Hughes on BBC 2 tonight 11 April

Posted on April 11, 2012 by proverbs6to10

Our favourite TV historian returns to the BBC with a brand new series tracing the hidden and, often controversial, history of women in religion. From Ancient Greece and Rome to China and India, she uncovers stories which unlock a secret … Continue reading →

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New chair endowed in Byzantine Theology

Posted on October 4, 2011 by proverbs6to10

As part of University efforts to expand its renowned Medieval Institute, Notre Dame established an endowed chair in Byzantine Theology this fall, according to a Friday press release. The position will focus on the theology of the Medieval Greek speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium in the News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mt. Athos: A visit to the Holy Mountain on CBS’ “60 Minutes” this Easter Sunday

Posted on April 23, 2011 by proverbs6to10

One to try and watch! Bob Simon steps back in time when he gets rare access to monks in ancient monasteries on a remote Greek peninsula who have lived a Spartan life of prayer in a tradition virtually unchanged for … Continue reading →

Posted in Radio & TV Programmes, Video | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy from BBC’s History of the World Series

Posted on July 7, 2010 by proverbs6to10

At last this series brings us something from Byzantium! As the series now approaches a point in time which is just prior to the Renaissance, why has Byzantium had just one ‘outing’? The series lays claim to be a history … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium 330-1453 Exhibition, Podcasts, Radio & TV Programmes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bettany Hughes – The Day Jesus Died

Posted on April 4, 2010 by proverbs6to10

I had no plans to post today, nor to add more about Bettany so soon, but this programme first shown on Good Friday shows how good she is as a historian and documentary maker. Given a full one hour slot … Continue reading →

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Icons and the Practice of Prayer – Rowan Williams

Posted on March 31, 2010 by proverbs6to10

As we approach Easter, here is another chance to listen to this fascinating talk by the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Dr Rowan Williams. Icons are – among other things – practical aids to meditative prayer, and painted in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantine Events, Byzantium 330-1453 Exhibition, Podcasts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Byzantine music of Cappella Romana

Posted on March 28, 2010 by proverbs6to10

As we approach Easter you may wish to add to your collection of Byzantine Orthodox music. The best in this field at the moment, in my view, are Cappella Romana. You can buy the CDs or download MP3 format. Click … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium 330-1453 Exhibition, Music, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Banishing Eve

Posted on March 19, 2010 by proverbs6to10

This series will cover the role of Byzantium and the Orthodox Church in the role of women in Christianity. Historian Bettany Hughes (yes her again – she has been busy!) uses the latest scholarship to take us back to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bettany Hughes, Radio & TV Programmes | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Sinai Illuminated Manuscript of the Heavenly Ladder: Spiritual Ascents through Art

Posted on February 23, 2010 by proverbs6to10

Father Justin, Librarian of the Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, discusses how the illuminated manuscript of The Ladder of Divine Ascent provides insights into the spirituality of Sinai and the theology of art in the Orthodox Church. Supported by The … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantine Events, Byzantium 330-1453 Exhibition, Podcasts | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Nineteenth Annual Runciman Lecture – Byzantine Architecture reconfigured in early Islamic Syria

Posted on February 18, 2010 by proverbs6to10

Professor Robert Hillenbrand The Great Hall at Kings’ College, London was packed again this year as over 250 people enjoyed the lecture by Professor Robert Hillenbrand. The subject matter of “Byzantine Architecture reconfigured in early Islamic Syria” did not at … Continue reading →

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Icons and Iconoclasm: Religious Imagery in Christianity, Judaism and Islam

Posted on February 14, 2010 by proverbs6to10

Another audio recording from events running along with the Byzantium 330-1453 exhibition Listen here. You will have to download but it is only 30 Mb. In contrast to the polytheistic religions and their exuberant depictions of their many gods, Christianity, Judaism … Continue reading →

Posted in Bettany Hughes, Byzantine Events, Byzantium 330-1453 Exhibition, Podcasts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The origins of the Russian religious icon

Posted on February 10, 2010 by proverbs6to10

Art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon travels through time to unlock the world of Russian art. In this episode he explores the origins of the Russian religious icon. This is available for only three more days on BBC iPlayer – act quickly … Continue reading →

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The Crusades: The War for the Holy Land by Thomas Asbridge and Holy Warriors: A Modern History of the Crusades by Jonathan Phillips

Posted on January 10, 2010 by proverbs6to10

Malise Ruthven admires two books that ask how modern conflicts have come to be clothed in the language of medieval holy wars   The historian Marc Bloch, who died a martyr’s death when shot by the Nazis, observed that “once … Continue reading →

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The Saintly Spirit of Father Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2009 by proverbs6to10

Cheery and chubby, Father Christmas towers over our annual festival. Yet St Nicholas, his Christian inspiration, was a far more intriguing character, says Alastair Sooke. Nothing captures the commercialisation of Christmas quite as effectively as the history of Santa Claus. … Continue reading →

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A Byzantine Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2009 by proverbs6to10

To such a deeply religious people as the Byzantines, Christmas held a very special place in their hearts and their community. I wanted to write a decent piece about a typical Byzantine Christmas but have run out of time; I … Continue reading →

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