THE SUBJECT
The paintings on this website are all representing Jesus of Nazareth in the Eucharist. Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, whom the teachings hold to be the Son of God. Christianity regards Jesus as the awaited Messiah of the Old Testament and refers to him as Jesus Christ (the anointed). The name Jesus, or Yeshua (yēšūă‘ in Hebrew) means God is salvation or God saves.
The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, has been instituted by Jesus as a sacrament of His body and blood. At the last supper, before he was betrayed and crucified, he gave his disciples bread, saying, "This is my body", and gave them wine saying, "This is my blood." Since that time his followers, the fathers of the Church, generations of Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant Christians believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Hence, the Eucharist has logically been called "the source and summit of the Christian life." For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Jesus himself,
Although Jesus of Nazareth has been abundantly represented in the visual arts, including scenes of the last supper, it's seems less common to see Jesus represented in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a very great mystery. His presence and works are invisible. Hence, to paint the Eucharist one has to rely on his faith, intuition and more importantly on the saints and mystics who abundantly commented on the Eucharist. As St. Thomas says, the fact that the true body and the true blood of Christ are present in this Sacrament "cannot be apprehended by the senses but only by faith, which rests upon divine authority”.
I believe the paintings on this website are a new style of icon of Jesus Christ. They attempt to depict the invisible interaction of the Eucharist with the soul. Each painting is expressing a specific meaning of the Eucharist. Interestingly, the meaning of each painting is not always known to the painter, but can be revealed to the person for whom it has been made. The Eucharist never changes, the only thing that changes is the person looking at him. Hence, the paintings are made to be contemplated, as an icon or a meditation device to penetrate our own being. St. Irenaeus said, "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."
Similar to previous spiritual methods of iconography, the painter tries to live a holy life, is a member of the Penitent Brothers, and prays before starting his work. The painter uses a bit of holy water in the paint, and has asked the Lord to bless each piece of work for the person(s) to whom He intends.
Most importantly, the paintings of the Eucharist are an open door invitation to Jesus who is always present and welcoming to us.
The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, has been instituted by Jesus as a sacrament of His body and blood. At the last supper, before he was betrayed and crucified, he gave his disciples bread, saying, "This is my body", and gave them wine saying, "This is my blood." Since that time his followers, the fathers of the Church, generations of Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant Christians believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Hence, the Eucharist has logically been called "the source and summit of the Christian life." For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Jesus himself,
Although Jesus of Nazareth has been abundantly represented in the visual arts, including scenes of the last supper, it's seems less common to see Jesus represented in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a very great mystery. His presence and works are invisible. Hence, to paint the Eucharist one has to rely on his faith, intuition and more importantly on the saints and mystics who abundantly commented on the Eucharist. As St. Thomas says, the fact that the true body and the true blood of Christ are present in this Sacrament "cannot be apprehended by the senses but only by faith, which rests upon divine authority”.
I believe the paintings on this website are a new style of icon of Jesus Christ. They attempt to depict the invisible interaction of the Eucharist with the soul. Each painting is expressing a specific meaning of the Eucharist. Interestingly, the meaning of each painting is not always known to the painter, but can be revealed to the person for whom it has been made. The Eucharist never changes, the only thing that changes is the person looking at him. Hence, the paintings are made to be contemplated, as an icon or a meditation device to penetrate our own being. St. Irenaeus said, "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."
Similar to previous spiritual methods of iconography, the painter tries to live a holy life, is a member of the Penitent Brothers, and prays before starting his work. The painter uses a bit of holy water in the paint, and has asked the Lord to bless each piece of work for the person(s) to whom He intends.
Most importantly, the paintings of the Eucharist are an open door invitation to Jesus who is always present and welcoming to us.
