October 3, 2004

As the fiftieth anniversary year of the chartering of the parish approaches, we cast a careful eye on what needs to be done to make this church ever more worthy of Our Saviour.

When the church was completed, the present painting over the High Altar was the best that could be afforded at the time, within the restraints of the building costs. It was painted in the "Retro" style of the 1950s. As the artist principally painted stage sets for theatres, it was done in acrylics on coarse canvas duck which was the custom for theatrical sets. This was not durable and some years ago an attempt was made to restore it and to enhance it with improved lighting. The painting continues to deteriorate.

Records indicate that when the church was opened there was hope that eventually there might be installed a work of art consistent, in both character and quality, with the Romanesque architecture of the church. Given our many debt obligations, this seemed out of the question.

I am moved and delighted that we have received funding from a benefactor outside the parish for a major painting, and we have also been awarded a special grant from a foundation for the promotion of the arts. The intention is that this painting be designated in honor of the known and unknown poor who are unable to make a gift themselves but who are the principle object of the donor's benefactions. This means that we are able to proceed with no expense to our own Restoration Fund.

The image will be in the Byzantine iconic style, the major figure in the sanctuary being Christ Our Saviour and Pantocrator (Lord of All). It is styled on an icon in the Monastery of St. Catherine on Mt. Sinai in Egypt and will probably be the largest representation of it in the United States. It will be flanked by smaller icons on the pilasters on either side of the sanctuary which never were completed. Similar icons were displayed in the Metropolitan Museum's recent exhibition of iconography. This should be the most significant work of ecclesiastical art in the nation this year and is a highly appropriate way to begin our golden anniversary. The icons have been in preparation by two leading artists for several months and should be ready by the Feast of All Saints. They are being painted in oil and gold leaf on wood and will be installed in a way that covers but preserves the original mural, helping to slow its deterioration.

We have been blessed with a splendid church structure and it behooves us to pass along to future generations the best we can offer to the glory of God. I want a strong figure of Our Saviour to preach in silence to all those who enter the church to pray between the liturgies.

Fr. George W. Rutler