Landscape, Nature, and the Sacred in Byzantium

Nature is an idea and a physical reality, and Landscape, Nature, and the Sacred in Byzantium explores attitudes towards creation that are different from the modern. It develops a fresh conceptual framework for approaching Byzantine perceptions of space and the environment and invites readers to shift from the linear time of history to the cyclical time and spaces of the sacred.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Nature is not just a physical reality, but also a profound idea that permeates Byzantine culture, Orthodox Christian thought, and practice. In his book "Landscape, Nature, and the Sacred in Byzantium," John Michael McCarthy delves into the unique perspectives on creation that emerged within this cultural context. By examining the relationship between nature and Byzantine culture, McCarthy offers a fresh conceptual framework for understanding Byzantine perceptions of space and the environment.

Through the exploration of Patristic writing, Byzantine literature, and art, McCarthy constructs a rich tapestry of ideas that challenge our modern understanding of nature. He invites readers on an imaginative journey, soaring over the Earth's diverse landscapes, from lush gardens and wilderness to towering mountains and cavernous caves. Along the way, he encourages us to transcend the linear time of history and immerse ourselves in the cyclical time and spaces of the sacred—the realms of eternal returns and revelations.

McCarthy's book offers a profound meditation on the interconnectedness of all things and the profound significance of nature in shaping our understanding of the world. It challenges us to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world and to recognize the sacred within the ordinary. By placing nature within the Byzantine cultural and theological framework, McCarthy provides a valuable contribution to the study of religion, art, and culture, offering a fresh perspective on the rich tapestry of Byzantine civilization.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316502242