MEDITATIONS FOR HOLY WEEK

 

One Ukrainian artist stands out for her colorful, yet finely detailed work.  More than any artist, KATERYNA SHADRINA highlights Holy Week, and  while we have shown her work in several Blogs, we have never showcased her.  

In her "Kiss of Judas", she uses bright yellow to make Jesus the central focus of the painting. Judas is given purple as a secondary color and the apostles, who are not crucial to the event, are given the same treatment of blue.  

“There is no trial more painful to a feeling heart than to be betrayed, and there never has been more frightful treachery than that of Judas, and yet observe with what meekness and patience Jesus submits to what is a source of such acute sorrow to His tender Heart. He repels not that unnatural monster of ingratitude, but receives him with humility and sweetness, and embraces him with every demonstration of the most ardent charity. He selects this last moment to bestow upon His betrayer the tenderest additional proofs of unbounded love, and by the interior movements of His grace and exterior demonstrations of friendship, He calls, invites, and urges him to repent and be converted. Oh, charity of my Jesus! When will you also learn not to resent an offense, and not to be so unforgiving toward those who offend you? When will you learn from the example of Jesus to bear patiently any trifling injury?” THE SCHOOL OF JESUS CRUCIFIED, Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, 1895.

In "Christ and Pilot" Jesus wears the martyr's robe of red and is adorned with a halo (unlike the previous icon). Katernya is known for her vibrant colors.