Five Days in February
Can you imagine the joy of taking five days and devoting your time, energy and thought to making art? It was my privilege to make the art of the religious icon, from 10am to 6pm in a sacred space at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville TN. Lynette Martin writes in her book Sacred Doorways “icons are described as being ‘written’ rather than painted or carved; that is because they are designed to communicate.”
For five Days in February I spent time with twelve other ladies at the Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville TN. We devoted our time in this sacred space to the writing of a religious icon. Saint Cecilia of Rome, the Patron Saint of Music was our focus. The art of Icon writing is very exacting and detailed and done in the manner of the ancient Orthodox icon artists. We followed specific directions on how to paint the icons. Some days I wondered, “what was I thinking?” but, as the days built the skills I needed for this visual communication of Saint Cecilia I began to realize that God was indeed in this gift of art.
There is a Jewish saying that says, “thousands of angels go before every human being, crying, “Make way, make way for the image of God.” Each day we opened the doors at Christ Church Cathedral to be in God’s presence and make a connection with ancient religious Icons. It became obvious that God was making a way through art to speak to us and through us. It was an experience I will not forget and I will forever be grateful for the spiritual connection made with God, art and the friends I made in these Five Days in February.