Hierarchies or direct relation to god

A new interpretation

Michael, Altripp

Zbornik radova Vizantoloskog instituta

50-2

969

985

http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?id=0584-98881302969A

2013-2020/03/08/22:21:32

In this paper it will be questioned that the hierarchies play an important role in Byzantine church decoration. There are only a few examples which probably could be interpretated as depictions of hierarchies. But even they are far from certain. Depictions of hierarchies came up during the first centuries of the Post-Byzantine times and occured quite often from then on. It is proposed that these Post-Byzantine examples derive from Western models. In general it remains to clarify whether or not Byzantine theology is dominated by hierarchical theories. It contradicts the idea of theosis to which e.g. the Pantocrator probably fits better than anything else.

hierarchy, pictorial programs, theosis, Western infl uence