Italy, Vatican and Historic Church
Combination of Travel notes, History and Art
Italy Trip
I have written to you about our recent trip to Italy. Yes, we toured the Vatican before the last Pope died. We were there on April 3rd. Our guide “Alex” was excellent - she guided Dene and I to elevators as we were not up to all the stairs. She was very well informed and had been doing these tours for many years! When you love what you do it shows.
We saw a lot - too much to detail. But she did cover a couple things I want to highlight. We did not just “see” the Sistine Chapel. She described in great detail - the “little door” to a room where the new Pope goes in and dresses….. presumably talks to God and exits as the New Pope. Where they set up to do “Pope Smoke” to inform about decisions and so much more. How they were locked in the building for Conclave and so many details about the procedures. She also told that Michelangelo painted standing up, not laying down - and that he fell off his scaffolding more than once!
The circle of Mosaics surrounding Nero’s bath; the Minotaur - half man, half bull and the Centaurs - half man, half horse and other creatures depicted really existed as they were all part of the Fallen Angels / co-mingling of DNA that God never intended.
The Nephilim (giants) - half angel, half man from Genesis 6 and WHY NOAH’S FLOOD was done to exterminate all of these abominations. Clearly they reappeared after the flood (somehow) as Goliath - that David slew was a giant/ Nephilim. She came right out and discussed stuff I had only recently read about! Never mentioned in any church I have attended.
We left Rome on the morning of April 7th (before the Pope passed away) and we took the highspeed train to Venice.
If you want to read more about these items, yes some is in the bible, but so much more in historic documents all covered in Pastor Rick Renner’s Book “Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters and the World before the Flood” a great read. It explained how history fit together. Genesis 6 - the Nephilim were the “Men of Renown” became Greek God’s of Mythology and so much more. It gets repetitive, but it is not for me to critique.
There is so much history that is well documented from back then - so long ago. I have been studying the bible for about 4 years now. I am a history nut from the word go - so I am finally engrossed in the bible. All the crazy old legends, mythology and how it all fits together. I am late to the party, if you are reading this and already knew much of this, sorry for the repetition. If on the other hand you are looking for an interesting way to study the bible. I have 2 recommendations for you.
The First is Rabbi Jason Sobel. He is a Messianic Jew (he believes in Jesus our Messiah.) He is who was involved with the Chosen TV series and coached them on the whole Messiah, prophesy and history surrounding Jesus life. Remember, Jesus was a Jew - so were Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul. All the early Christians were and it surprises me to hear that folks didn’t know it. Rabbi Jason has Fusion Global Ministries . This is where I studied the Torah Portions; these are weekly segments of the first 5 books of the bible. The Hebrew Torah. (again if you knew all this, I am sorry for the repetition.) He also had great insight to Hebrew numbers and deeper meanings to the texts. I need this stuff explained! I have covered the Torah & Prophets with him 4 times now?
The second segment I am now studying is with YouVersion Bible App . Here I am now studying the New Testament. I began in January and I am just now at 1 Corinthians. I love the explanation here as well. I like it so well in fact that I am likely to do the Old Testament with them as well. Get a different perspective. The more I learn, the more I want to learn. The more I spend time in HIS Word, the More I want to know HIM; as it is all about relationship.
Historic Church & Art
All of the Old Historic Churches in Europe are architecturally amazing and are filled with painted scenes from the bible. The Louvre and many other museums are also filled with this Artwork - much taken before the churches were destroyed during conquests. Some after conquests, were gathered by the rich families and later left to the main museum of the area. Napoleon - the Louvre; Medici family - the Uffizi Museum are just examples.
For centuries, the Church was who was supporting the artists and art communities. They commissioned pieces for their Church. You were building a church, you need to explain the Bible and Story of Jesus to your illiterate community. How do you do this? With pictures of course. You must remember, the vast majority did not read or write. So to assist in remembering the story, they had images to tie the information to. Artists for Centuries were commissioned for paintings, architectural design and more.
We sadly missed St. Peter’s Basilica as the tour company did not tell us about the schedule change. Alex did a few more miles in the Vatican and then told us about the change. Our legs were done! So sad to have missed it.
We did see St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice! Matteo did another amazing job! He 1st covered the Doge Palace and the Basilica was after. The Doge Palace was the Governing body in Historic Venice. He took us to an assistant and said he would meet us up on the 4th floor! Going 4 flights of stairs was out of the question; down a segment or two at a time was ok. The Doge served for life, but others were only for a short time - they fought corruption well. All very well explained. The Palace was full of art, portraits and more gold.
Then we went out in front of St. Mark’s. This was an AMAZING STORY. I will show you the pictures. St. Mark’s relics were smuggled into Venice - stolen! Now how would you get stolen goods into your country. They had to be loaded onto a ship leaving somewhere and arrive somewhere “friendly.” The Upper left - there in front of the “inspectors was a basket.” In the bottom were St. Mark’s Relics (his bones) on top they put cut up pig / pork. Jews and Muslims would have nothing to do with it and lurch back - argh! take it away! And that’s how St. Mark arrived in Venice. Told in Mosaic for all to see, on the front of the Basilica.
The inside of St. Mark’s - The disciples, bible stories and OMG all the gold! Every square inch - the whole bible in paintings, mosaics and more!
I could show you Basilica / Church after Church! France and Italy - they are all filled with amazing artwork. Sometimes they knew who painted what others they did not. It was not normal as it is today to sign your artwork at the bottom. If they were lucky there was something written on the back - if it didn’t fade away. But to go into a Church built in the 5th Century! 10th - it doesn’t matter - all filled with exquisite art!
I did not study Art History in College; what little I know came from Kathleen Key, an Art History Professor at UTEP - who taught in old Mesilla for Dona Ana Art Council on Monday evenings. I attended many weeks as she was a great teacher. They were amazing - a thousand slides of art and the information all about them! She was a wealth of knowledge. I am grateful to her as otherwise, all the amazing museums we have been to - I wouldn’t have understood what I was looking at!
I now have hundreds of slides of artwork - painting after painting. Most of the time I would photograph the painting and then the information board next to it. Otherwise, I would be lost.
The Milan Art Mastery Program - their approach was different. Elli made the decision that you can look up everything on the internet and only hit the main Segments of Art History and a few Artists in each category / time period. Coupled with what I was taught in Mesilla - I can at least have a conversation and have actually seem some of these type and periods in Art History. For that I am thankful.
If you want to see more - or discuss these things further. Again, I now have oodles of pictures and can help with some basic information. Again, I plan to write and assemble a Travel guide for each of these amazing trips. France and now Italy. Leave me your thoughts, questions and I will assist if I can!
