Nicolescu, Costion The Human Face: an Iconostasis The human face is an iconostasis of the soul. Beyond it, the Word-Bread is offered on the altar of the heart, burning upon the fire of chants. The mystery of the face is one of the greatest paradoxes. The face both shows and hides, reveals and covers, closes and discloses, veils and unveils. The inner and the outer meet in the face and lend it its expression. Hence the fascination exerted by the face. How beautiful, how true, how close to us is a peaceful face, wrinkled with tears, wounded by the gentle arrow of the Spirit! The face is given to us not for ourselves, but for encounter with the others. The others’ faces are for us. Our lives are full of beloved faces. The faces of our grandparents, our parents, our friends… Faces everywhere around us. A world of faces. Faces on earth, faces in heavens. I behold in awe photographs of peasants, that make me feel humble. Fascinating faces of women, of an austere beauty, sometimes stern, never ostentatious. Faces of elderly people, deeply wrinkled, their eyes gazing “beyond.” Princely faces of children, gazing in wonder at the charming mysteries of the domwestic world. Faces of true men, firm, unwavering in their work, constantly running various risks, constantly bearing paternal responsibilities. Faces of young people, sound links of the chain, evincing their crystalline inner constitution, their confident walking in the steps of their forefathers. Their felicitous encounter occurs within the Church, around the Image of Christ. Format: 13x20 cm, 256 p. ISBN: 978-973-136-118-5 “Theological Studies” «« back