The English Parish Church through the Centuries (DVD)
The English Parish Church through the Centuries (DVD), Edited by Dee Dyas, published by Christianity and Culture, at the Humanities Research Centre, University of York, price £17.50
This is a remarkable DVD at a remarkable price. It is a magnificent resource for anyone interested in the history of Christianity, its beliefs, practices, literature, buildings and art. Edited by Dee Dyas, the Director of Christianity and Culture at the Humanities Research Centre, University of York, there are 600 pages packed with fascinating articles by most of Britain’s leading scholars in this field. For readers of Vidimus the disk has excellent sections on the medieval church and its art. Contributors include three CVMA authors: Tim Ayers, who provides an excellent introduction to medieval stained glass; Richard Marks who explains statues and devotional images; and case studies by David King on the parish church in Norwich.
Name that Roundel! Solution
Fig. 1. Christ restores the widow of Nain’s son to life.
This month’s scene shows one of the Miracles of Christ as described in the New Testament Gospel of St Luke 7: 11–17.
It is the story of the Christ restoring the widow of Nain’s son to life. [Fig. 1]
According to the King James Bible:
[11] And it came to pass ….. that he (Jesus) went into a city called Nain and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
[12] Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
[13] And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
[14] And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
[15] And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
[16] And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
[17] And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region
The widow’s son was the first person that Jesus raised from the dead. After this miracle followed the raising of Jairus’ daughter in Capernaum (Luke 8:41–56), and finally that of his friend Lazarus in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem (John 11:1–46). It is also the first time that Luke refers to Christ as ’the Lord‘, denoting his divinity.
Dr Zsuzsanna van Ruyven-Zeman writes:
The scene is from an engraving by Jan Wierix (1549–c.1620) from one of twelve sheets depicting The Miracles of Christ designed by Gerard van Groeningen (active in Antwerp, 1561–1575/76).
