Iconography Workshop taught by Master Iconographer Heather MacKean
Monday, August 4 through Saturday, August 9
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
$650 per student (includes materials)
Contact Fr. George @ snocpdx@spiritone.com for information and registration

Historical Context

Author: John
Date: A.D. 95
Location: Island of Patmos, Asia Minor mainland; Roman Empire; the heavenly firmament
Situation: Persecution of Christians by imperial edict — Domitian declared himself to be “Lord and God;” Christians (especially the noteworthy ones) were being rounded-up, arrested, imprisoned, exiled, or executed for failing to express their worship of the emperor: impiety = un-patriotic.
Occasion: Apocalyptic literature arose out of oppression, foreign occupation, and persecution. The use of bizarre and enigmatic imagery (which often hides allusions to the oppressing empire under the guise of a previous enemy such as Egypt or Babylon) helps to veil any references to contemporary historical events and personalities. The present enemy would not readily understand the text, and thus would not respond by escalating its persecution of the faithful. It is possible that even the intended audience did not fully understand the precise meaning of the apocalyptic imagery.

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