Beauty, Art, and Their Relationship to the Church
It was a question addressed to His Holiness the Pope by the Arabic Radio of the Middle East Council of Churches, and he answered with this lecture, which we are publishing now for the benefit of our readers, to explain the relationship of the Church to art and literature. Of course, we mean art in its spiritual use and in its ideal form.
God Is the First Artist:
A look at creation, at nature, is enough for us to see a magnificent work of art that shows us the extent of God’s love for beauty: a look at the sun on the horizon at sunset, and the reflection of its rays upon the clouds… The colors of the apartments, the colors of the rainbow, the colors of the beautiful flowers, one of which Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like… Everything speaks of God’s love for beauty…
All of nature is a magnificent masterpiece of art.
The greatest achievement an artist can attain in painting or sculpture is to produce an image that imitates nature, for nature is the ideal state of beauty, and it is the work of God, who loves art…
Beauty and art in nature are not found only in images, but also in sound. The wonderful sounds of birdsong, the chirping of sparrows, the murmuring of water, the roar of the waves, and the sound of the wind…
All of these, in their marvelous diversity, form a magnificent artistic symphony…
Indeed, the human larynx is a wondrous and delicate artistic instrument in its musical performance. So much so that in our Coptic Church, we prefer vocal music to instrumental music, and we do not allow the instrument to overpower the natural voice, because it has a deeper impact…
When we look at the Tabernacle of Meeting, we see another expression of art…
God Himself was the One who designed its plan and arrangement. Indeed, He was the One who chose the types of fabric and their colors so that they would convey beautiful symbolic meanings, enhancing the magnificence of the image and revealing the depth of its artistry… The Bible says that Moses did everything according to the pattern God had shown him. God takes the beauty of art into consideration. Thus, the Tabernacle of Meeting was not merely a place of worship; it also bore the touches of art…
What is said about art in the Tabernacle of Meeting can also be said about Solomon’s Temple. Worship does not prevent art; rather, it strengthens it…
The beautiful carvings and designs, such as the depictions of the cherubim, for example, and the two cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant, one on this side and one on that side…
Bezalel the artist, who received a gift from the Spirit of God, used it to offer his art and skill in the sacred place of worship…
We also see art in worship through the various musical instruments that were used in the Temple,
and through the chanting of the Psalms…
The tambourines, trumpets, cymbals, lyre, flute, pipe, ten-stringed instruments, and harp… and others… together with the chief singers, such as Asaph and Heman… Even women participated, such as Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Moses, who took a tambourine in her hands, stood singing and leading the singing, saying, “The horse and its rider He has thrown into the Red Sea”… All of this demonstrates the importance of singing and music in worship, in the Psalms, and in the Temple of God…
Indeed, music was present even in war…
The sound of trumpets and shouting by the army and the people, as happened during the siege of Jericho. It was the music of war, by God’s command.
There was even a feast in the Old Testament called the Feast of Trumpets.
We also find music in the Church during the Divine Liturgies, prayers, hymns, and praises…
Our prayers during the Divine Liturgy, offered by the priests and deacons, are prayers set to melodies and sung in tune. The congregation also responds in the same manner, and all our hymns have their own melodies and music. The same applies to the praises in the Psalmodia. Indeed, in ancient times, the Psalms were prayed according to their melodies, with each Psalm having its own particular melody. In the Church, the Gospel is also read in a melodic chant. The same applies to the Psalm, and there are so many melodies for different occasions… All of this demonstrates the Church’s concern for music as a part of ecclesiastical art…
Alongside music, as one of the fine arts, we also find painting in the Church, represented by icons…
There is no doubt that churches have enriched art through their paintings. No church is without icons adorning it in a particular arrangement, whether images of angels, saints, or the Lord of Glory Himself. Some churches are masterpieces of extraordinary beauty. How remarkable are the artists who specialized in beautifying churches…
We also use these paintings and images in ecclesiastical education. In this way, our children grow up appreciating art from an early age…
Every story from the Holy Bible is accompanied by one or more pictures.
In manuscripts, we also see beautiful artistry in the letters of the alphabet.
The fine arts in our churches are also manifested in architecture and construction.
There are so many artistic styles in construction: Coptic art, basilican art, Gothic art,
and the various forms of Roman and Byzantine art… Beautiful examples of cathedrals, bell towers, domes, columns, and arches… together with the architecture of monasteries… All of this is expressed through beautiful art and has become a destination for many visitors.
Among the forms of art that appeared in churches are metalworking arts:
Such as hand crosses and pectoral crosses, ecclesiastical vessels, censers, the bronze serpent, lamps,
and pectoral icons… all crafted with captivating beauty.
Woodworking arts are also added to these…
Such as the sanctuary screen, the iconostasis, lecterns, niches, and the cladding of walls and columns with wood… Wood carving and engraving in a magnificent style in which churches excelled.
Among the forms of ecclesiastical art are storytelling and the other literary arts:
Storytelling as part of the sermon, as part of Sunday School lessons, as a realistic element in the lives of the saints, and as part of the art of theatrical performances presented to our children to dramatize and clarify the events of the Bible and history…
Even priestly vestments are works of art…
The fabric itself incorporates artistry. Its designs, the way it is embroidered and made, are all adorned with beautiful art. Indeed, they are a lesson for our children through the symbols they bear…
God does not want religion to be something dry…
Art gives religion a touch of beauty and makes people love it.
Art can be used for good, just as wrongdoers use it for evil. Religion offers this beneficial use of art…
God created everything beautiful… It was said of Him Himself that He is more beautiful than the sons of men. And He said of His Church: “Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved; your eyes are doves”…
Even the principles, ideals, and commandments established by the Lord bear this touch of beauty as well—a beauty of the spirit and of thought…
God’s angels are also characterized by beauty, and so is His Kingdom…
A description of the heavenly Jerusalem—as recorded in the Book of Revelation—gives us an idea of the beauty of God’s dwelling with humanity… and how it is adorned with every precious stone: jasper, blue sapphire, white agate, emerald, beryl, emerald, and amethyst… How beautiful is this wondrous scene, with its diverse colors and precious stones…
The most magnificent description God gave of His Kingdom in its beauty is that it is “what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man”—what God has prepared for those who love His holy Name…
The Bible tells us about the song of the 144,000 in heaven, that it is a new song, played by the pure on their harps, and that no one could learn it… It is an art beyond the ordinary level.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — Al-Keraza Magazine — Ninth Year, Issue 43, October 27, 1978.
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