#oleg shurkus

[angelofberlin2000]

This is one of my favorite (modern) icons painted by Oleg Shurkus (Олег Шуркус). It depicts a sweet episode from the life of saint Gerasimus of the Jordan:  One day while he was walking along the Jordan, Gerasimos came upon a lion roaring in agony because of a large splinter imbedded in one paw. Overcome by compassion for the beast, Gerasimos removed the splinter and cleaned the wound, bounding it up, expecting the lion to return to its cave. Instead the creature meekly followed him back to his monastery and became his devoted pet. The whole community was amazed at the animal's conversion to a peaceful nature, life and devotion to the abbot; living on bread and vegetables. (x)

Look how lovely the artist painted the emotions of the lion (pain and sadness) and of Saint Gerasimus (love and compassion) and how close-knit they are!

[dioscorus-boles]

THE AUDACITY OF SAINT MACARIUS THE GREAT, THE GREEK SKULL AND THE DEMONS

THE AUDACITY OF SAINT MACARIUS THE GREAT, THE GREEK SKULL AND THE DEMONS

Saint Macarius the Great by the Russian painter, Oleg Shurkus The Apophthegmata Patrum (The sayings of the Fathers) is a collection of the words and anecdotes mainly of the Egyptian desert fathers and mothers in the 4th and 5th centuries, and represents their spiritual practices and wisdom. It contains many lovely stories. One of the interesting stories is about Saint Macarius the Great (300 –…