There was a magnificent display of some 125 Russian icons and religious artifacts at our local art museum recently (In South Mississippi- it's actually quite nice, for a largely rural region. A balance of largely traditional art, a sprinkling of "modern"-gagh- and a fine collection of Native American baskets). I don't recall any icons by Rublev (or on his design rather, as most of them were from early-modern to turn of the century periods), though I did not get to view it as well as I would have liked. I came back a few days later only to learn the exhibit had just been packed... I don't agree with many of the practise surronding icons, but they are certainly beautiful works of art and devotion.
We do have a few blots in our history. We were not always as good to the jews in Russia during certain historical times. And certainly the Old Believers were persecuted, at least by taxes if nothing else, in parts of Russia during Peter the Great's time.
In our faith we consider them to be theology in art. As if the Bible were made into pictures, so to speak. And many of our icons are just that, biblical stories made into art. Thank you for your kind words. I do love your state of residence, having traveled there several times.
In Facing East our fellow EO Frederica M.G. writes of a Georgian preacher whom I have taken great interest in, who recently passed away I understand.
Howard Finster.
Are you familiar with him?
God is Love
If You Only Had One Sweet Son
And You Gave His Life To Save
Ten Wicked Men. And And They
Returned And Denied That You
Gave Your Only Son For Them
And Said You Child Never Exist
No One Died For Us. Please Go
Right Now And Call You Child To
You And Measure You Love For Him
And Turn And Look At The Most
Sinful Man You Know And
Think If You Would Trade Your
Presus Son For Him. God Is Love."