Heaven on Earth

This volume, which grew out of a series of lectures presented at the Smithsonian Institution in 1991, aims to provide a coherent introduction to Byzantine culture with a focus on the interconnected realms of art and religion. The eight participants have revised their lectures into chapters on Byzantine history, theology, icons and icon theory, church architecture, monumental painting, silver church furnishings, illustrated liturgical books, and pilgrimage. In addition to presenting current research on this range of topics, the chapters each contribute original scholarship from authors who are recognized experts in their respective fields. The introduction, by Linda Safran, deals with views and definitions of Byzantium over the course of its long history and considers why that civilization attracts attention today. It underscores the essential unifying role of the Orthodox religion in a vast and fluid empire and clarifies how the experimental aspects of that religion - churches, liturgy, church arts and imagery, religious travel - open a window into Byzantine culture. Throughout the book, the past considers what Byzantine believers heard and said and did, as well as what they saw. The book's chapters are cross-referenced and are complemented both by endnotes that cite primary and secondary sources and by "Suggestions for Further Reading" that include English and foreign-language references.