Tapestry is an extremely ancient art form which has been present in all cultures in the world for millennia. The oldest tapestries date back to ancient Egypt, and some were also found in pre-Columbian America and the enduring remnants of the ancient Asian empires.

The tapestry is considered as an art which mixes both the artist painting’s skills, who may have been a painter of great fame and carries out the preparatory drawing or cardboard, and the artisan, who had to make the actual tapestry, starting from the base.

The name Tapestry comes from the French town of Arras, famous in the Middle Ages for its vast production of this artwork. In Europe the art of tapestry started in the fourteenth century and reached its peak during the Renaissance. In addition to its artistic value, tapestries were in great demand to decorate castles, churches, and in nobles’ residencies as thermal insulation: in fact, when they are on the walls, they allow to heat rooms which otherwise would be too large to heat and hence cold.

Great artists such as Raphael, Rubens, Goya made cartoons for tapestries. The subjects of the cartoons could be various: from mythology, history, nature, to sacred subjects. The religious tapestries were often kept in churches and rolled out only on special occasions, such as celebrations, but sacred tapestries could also be found in private houses.

One of the most famous religious tapestries is the well-known Apocalypse Tapestry, a cycle of tapestries made in the late fourteenth century, inspired by the Apocalypse of St. John, commissioned by the Valois family and considered as a French artistic heritage.

From the technical point of view, to make a tapestry it’s necessary to use a loom with a high or low heddle frame (heddle is that part of the frame which moves the string’s weft), a basic cardboard, colored threads, each connected to a different spool, combs to harmonize the wool, and scissors. Starting from the cardboard, the first thing which needs to be made is the weft, which serves as base for the tapestry. For the weft generally it’s used twisted cotton, whereas in the past were more common linen or wool. The weft, which is the actual design, is made of wool or silk, sometimes mixed together. In modern tapestries we can also find viscose and synthetic fibers. The making of a tapestry requires the presence and participation of many craftsmen, each specialized in a specific field: painters, weavers, seamstresses. It is a challenging and laborious practice, but nonetheless able to produce works of great beauty and value.

Sacred Romanian icons are derived from ancient Byzantine tradition. It is a way of interpreting the sacred representation closer to western sensitivity compared to other forms of art of the same kind. Used colours are generally warm and intense, the outlines of a mobile and human face.

Sacred Romanian icons are hand painted on wooden boards or on glass. Usually the tempera technique is used, embellished with stylish decorations in gold leaf.

Even today, artisans and Romanian painters use the old, strict standards of Byzantine iconography. Each icon is unique and unrepeatable, thanks to processing and manual painting, and this uniqueness, combined with refinement and execution to deep symbolic value, makes authentic works of art. As for Russian icons, icons are often the subjects of Mary, depicted as a mother of tenderness and love, or in the context of the Annunciation, and Jesus as the good shepherd and protector. However, there are depictions of the Holy Family and of saints and martyrs.

One of the typical representations of Mary in Romanian holy icons is that of the Mother of God of Tolga, also known as ‘tenderness’ or ‘Garden of the Mother of God’ depending on the interpretation. It takes its name from the Tolga monastery, which stands where the ancient original icon was found.

Another recurring theme of Mary is the Mother of God of Korsun, which instead takes its name from the Russian town of Korsun, which, according to legend, was painted by Saint Evangelist Luca. The Madonna dressed as a bride of God, an Empress destined to rule the world, but with a sad expression, aware of the fate of her son. She is shown from the waist up, her hand raised in a pleading gesture, and her head tilted to the Son.

The sacredness expressed by holy Romanian icons is exactly half way between western and eastern iconography. Most of the humanity of faces and proportions makes it more accessible to an immediate understanding and enjoyment of the piece of art, as well as the symbol of devotion and prayer.

Lent is the liturgical period preceding Easter and, in a sense, it allows the faithful to prepare for its celebrations. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, and is characterised by fasting and penance, prayer and charity, in a path of purification of body and soul.

However, what is the best way to deal with Lent? Too often, in the frenzy of modern life, distracted by endless problems and headaches, we tend to forget the true spirit of this period, which symbolises and reminds us of an important moment in the life of Jesus, or the forty days spent in the desert before beginning his preaching.

A few years ago, Pope Francis, in one of his speeches, listed a number of valuable tips for undergoing Lent, which remain valid and relevant today, and forever. 10 pearls of wisdom and love to keep in mind, at this time more than ever.

We want to remember them along with you:

1. Get rid of bad lazy habits

“Lent is a “powerful” season, a turning point that can strengthen change and conversion in all of us. It can change us for the better. It helps us to leave behind the bad habits that create dependency on evil.”

2. Do something that causes suffering

“Lent is an excellent time for self-denial: we have to understand what is better to give up, to enrich ourselves and enrich others with our poverty. Do not forget that real poverty hurts. No self-denial is true if devoid of pain. I do not believe in charity that costs nothing and it does not hurt. ”

3. Do not remain indifferent

“Indifference towards others and towards God is a strong temptation for us Christians. Every year, during Lent, we once again hear the words of the prophets, who cry out to our conscience and challenge us. God is not indifferent to this world. He loves us and sent us his son for our salvation.”

4. Pray and say, “Make our hearts like Yours!”

“During Lent, we must ask the Lord: “Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum”, that is “Make our hearts like yours” (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). In this way we get a firm and a compassionate heart, caring and generous, open, not indifferent, and not the prey of the globalisation of indifference “.

5. Take part in sacraments

“Lent serves to receive the sacraments of Christ. Each time, we have to hear the word of the Lord and receive His blessings. We must dedicate ourselves, especially, to the Eucharist. Then we will become what we receive: the body of Christ. ”

6. Pray (again)

“In the face of all the injuries that plague us and weigh down our hearts, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of the love of God, to taste the flavour of His tenderness. Lent is a time of prayer, intense prayer, more prolonged, more assiduous, and more attentive to the needs of the brothers, more dedicated to the Saints and the Virgin Mary to overcome poverty and suffering. ”

7. Practice fasting

“We must be careful not to practice a purely formal fasting, or one in which you are “satisfied” anyway, because it makes us feel good. Fasting makes sense if it causes difficulties for our safety, and if it leads to benefits for others. It helps us to cultivate the Good Samaritan, who bends in front of his brother in need and takes care of him. ”

8. Practice charity

“Today gratuity is not part of everyday life, where everything is bought and sold. Everything is calculated and measured. Charity helps us to live the experience of giving freely, which in turn leads to a new freedom, from the obsession of owning things. It takes away the fear of losing what we have and remove the sadness of those who do not know or do not want to share their wealth with others.”

9. Help the poor

“Among the poor and marginalised, we see the face of Christ. By loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ. Our efforts must be directed at putting an end to violations of human dignity, against discrimination and abuse in the world, because these are the causes of deprivation. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences are to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.”

10. Evangelise

“The Lord wants us to be joyful heralds of His message of hope and compassion. It is exciting to share the beauty of spreading the good news, spread the treasure entrusted to us, comfort the afflicted and give hope to our brothers and sisters who are lost in darkness. “

The Via Crucis or Way of the Cross, traces the Passion of Christ and his path towards Mount Golgotha to be crucified. Pilgrims visiting Jerusalem since ancient times celebrated this ritual: they covered the route from Pilate Palace to the mountain and to the Holy Sepulchre. However, it was with Francis of Assisi that the Way of the Cross knew its statement and its modern codification. In fact, not everyone could afford a trip to Jerusalem, and the representation of the Stations of the Cross became a way to make the places of the Passion accessible to every faithful.

In the first half of the seventeenth century, the first Via Crucis made their appearance in the churches and immediately had an emotional and devotional impact on believers.

The 14 paintings of the Via Crucis are arranged along the inner walls of the church in order to respect a precise symmetrical order.

The Stations of the Cross are as follows, but alternative schemes are allowed anyways:

1. Jesus is sentenced to death
2. Jesus takes up the cross
3. Jesus falls for the first time
4. Jesus meets his Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carrying the cross
6. Saint Veronica wipes Jesus’s face
7. Jesus falls for the second time
8. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls for the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. Jesus’s body is placed in the sepulchre

The Way of the Cross is a fundamental moment for the faithful, for their experience of prayer and penance. It establishes a deep union with Christ in the moment of his supreme suffering, of his highest and more precious sacrifice.

Usually it takes place on Good Friday and is accompanied by songs and common celebrations. Since ancient times, it has also been used as a popular representation, in Italy and abroad. In this case, it becomes a real stage production, where devotion joins the spectacle, creating moments of great beauty and people’s participation.

Prayer is a moment of absolute intimacy that every believer experiences in a unique and personal way. It comes from a movement of the soul, a need of the heart, and marks the day alongside and intertwined with commitments, thoughts, and daily vicissitudes.

The hectic life does not allow enough time to go to church or to find a suitable place of recollection, but there are many ways to always carry the Word of God, to find the inspiration needed to give voice to your faith.

Prayer rings are an example of how spiritual aspiration can come together with beauty, even fashion, without losing their deepest meaning. This is pure, refined design, expressions of discreet elegance and timeless at the same time, a strong, proud and aware faith.

The prayer rings are engraved on the surface, bearing the immortal words of the most ancient and solemn prayers. Our Father or the Hail Mary create refined carvings etched in gold, in platinum, but also less noble materials, which, however, buy into this as a tangible added value. Spirituality becomes art, it is elegant, and most of all is the expression of a conscience always close to the Word; a way to always carry the Lord at all times, in every gesture, as a safe and fortifying presence at your side.

Prayer rings are a personal and exclusive gift, an intimate and precious message for those who offer them and those who receive them. They become an integral part of the human and spiritual existence of the wearer, symbols of faith and love, of trust and spirituality.

The Orthodox cross is a particular version of the cross, characterised by some symbolic elements that make it unique to its kind. It is divided into a vertical line crossed by three diagonal bars. In a stylised way, these bars represent the crucifixion of Jesus: the highest plate has the inscription ‘Jesus Christ, King of the Jews’ (INBI in Greek, or INRI in Latin), that Pilate ordered to put up to mock the Saviour; the lowest, diagonal in Russian iconography, straight in the Greek one, is the footstool. The slope of the bottom bar has symbolic significance as it represents the ascension of Christ, in addition to the concept that “The Cross is the Scales of Justice”. The truth is that the Orthodox cross hides countless hidden symbols and signs, not only in its unique form, but often also in decorations with which it is embellished.

The figure of Jesus, for example, is not represented in a random way: he does not carry the crown of thorns, and is fixed to the cross with four nails instead of three. His head is tilted to the right. Behind him, to resume the lines of his body, the spear with which Longinus pierced his side, and the towel with which he was quenched with vinegar.

In the background is the city of Jerusalem, the scene of the Passion. The cross of Jesus rests on the rocks, below which opens a cave, in which the skull of Adam is visible. This relates to the progenitor of all men, who lost the grace and love of God for his sin, and Jesus, the incarnation of the New Covenant and the forgiveness of the Father. On either side of the bar that holds Jesus, there are the sun and the moon, and figures of angels, as well as many inscriptions that refer to prophecies and prayers.

It is a representation of Jesus’ death without the connotations of blood and agony, but it expresses sanctity, nobility, a kind of solemn beauty.