In this essay on the theme of grace, Arthur Aghajanian examines the drawings of contemporary artist Vija Celmins. He does so by framing Celmins’s “Ocean” drawings as representations of the idea of grace as the flow of God’s love. In addition, Arthur places these images in the context of the Classical tradition in art.
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The khachkar, or cross-stone, is unique to Armenia, the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. Arthur Aghajanian explores the idea of the Cosmic Christ embedded in these beautiful monuments.
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Arthur Aghajanian and Don Salmon discuss the use of images for spiritual guidance in traditional and contemporary practice.
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In this essay, Arthur Aghajanian writes about Caspar David Friedrich’s “Monk by the Sea” as a visual embodiment of the apophatic tradition.
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In an essay inspired by writing from C.S. Lewis, Arthur Aghajanian explores the representation of personality in our visual culture.
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Arthur Aghajanian has done it again. Please enjoy a compelling examination of the art of Rembrandt. This time with a personal touch. Arthur shares his own struggles around finding his true self after working very hard to perfect his artist persona. How do we find our way out of the shadows and into the light?
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Continuing our holiday series, Arthur Aghajanian considers how most people see Christmas as the celebration of an individual birth at a certain moment in history, accompanied by portrayals of the Holy Child in churches and on Christmas cards. These images have their place in the religious education of children, he writes. Yet for adults, visualizing the meaning of Christmas in this way often only helps reinforce a limited understanding of what the occasion can mean for us. How does mature Christianity recognize Jesus’s birth?
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Arthur Aghajanian offers a beautiful consideration of the difference between faith and belief, indicating that faith is an experiential knowing, a sense of connectedness with one’s true nature. How is this different from belief?
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Contemplative Light is pleased to introduce a new writer this week. Arthur Aghajanian explores visual culture in ways that are informed by his own contemplative practice. In his first article, Arthur analyzes Bernini’s “Ecstasy of St. Teresa” through a contemplative lens. Please enjoy.
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