This stained glass window on the south side of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greensboro depicts the dormition (sleeping in death) of Mary. The church is called the Dormition of the Theotokos. Dormition of the Theotokos is a feast day representing the day Mary or Theotokos, literally, the God-bearer, is being resurrected to be taken up to heaven. If you enlarge the picture, you can see that Jesus Christ is holding what appears to be a baby. He has returned to earth out of respect for his mother to carry her soul to heaven. The baby is the "soul" of Theotokos. El Greco painted the scene in the 16th century.
According to their website, the Greek Orthodox Church in Greensboro was established in 1946 and has grown from 40 to 150 families. The present church, at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Westridge Road was built in 1975. We featured it here last week.Their current leader, Father Dionysios Listermann-Vierling is not Greek and he encourages converts of all ethnicities to become members of the church. In Orthodox churches, all music is acapella, as the voice is God's instrument and his gift to us. We've always wondered what would happen if a priest-in-training could not sing on pitch!
This is our contribution to Sacred Sunday.
Nice to hear from you! Ms. Rawlings did write a lot of other things than The Yearling. If you dig out that recipe book, let me know what you cook, OK?
This is a beautiful picture...you've got the stained glass perfectly and the silhouetted people in the pews are just the right contrast. I don't get all that convoluted theology, but to each his own.
Hope you're doing well!
Posted by: Jacob | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 09:12 AM
A magnificent photo of a heavenly stained glass window! Perfect for Sacred Sunday!
Posted by: leif hagen | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 09:45 AM
Nice window. Did people look back at you when they heard the click of your camera?
Posted by: Randy | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Randy (Santa Fe Daily Photo): I was attending a presentation on Orthodoxy 101 and many people had cameras as it was during the Greek Food Festival so I didn't think I was violating a sacred space. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Comments let us know people are reading and interested!
Posted by: Greensboro Daily Photo | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Excellent. what a stunning stained glass. MB
Posted by: MaryBeth | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 02:24 PM
Even the shape of the window is beautiful. Having people with the window makes a nice connection.
I love the idea of Mary's soul being small as a baby because it is only one day old!
Posted by: Dina | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 05:47 PM
«Louis» did not know that the singing in the Orthodox churches is acapella. Very interesting. «Louis» once belonged to a parish (he is Lutheran) - where the pastor could not chant on pitch. Ouch!
«Louis» thanks you for the link to La Vaca Lola...
;-D
Posted by: Louis la Vache | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 07:06 PM
Dear Readers: Many of the people who read and comment on Sacred Sunday often have spiritual posts themselves. Dina lives in Jerusalem so just about everything she posts has some connection to religion, directly or indirectly! I have learned through her so much about the religious diversity of Israel.
Posted by: Greensboro Daily Photo | Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 07:07 PM
Excellent image, the silhouetted figures against the beautiful colors of the window look superb!
Posted by: Carraol | Monday, September 27, 2010 at 03:07 AM
An amazing picture indeed. Made me wonder whether it is the light of such a place, that makes bright mind and soul, as it can't be just sunshine.
Please have a good week.
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