If you’re a medievalist at heart, you know to go to the Cloisters when you’re in New York. But if you’re harboring an inner patrologist, you gotta go to the Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses a stunning collection of early-Christian art — including a large room full of unusual Coptic items. Many display cases are well stocked with beautifully crafted liturgical items. There’s an early pyx, probably Syrian, made of elephant ivory, that simply must be seen up close — preferably during the Easter Octave, as it shows the women at the empty tomb. (Scott Hahn discusses this item in the last chapter of his most recent book, Letter and Spirit.) If you can’t get to NYC this week, though, you can still examine the pyx online. While you’re on the site, check out the first few pages of the medieval collection; they’re still in the patristic era. And here’s a page devoted to Byzantine and medieval art for Christian liturgy.
5 thoughts on “Hottest Pyx You’ll Have Met Online”
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We moved to New Jersey last September. In October my daughter came down for a weekend visit and on Saturday took us to the City (just a short train ride away). She said she had a surprise for me. It was a beautiful day . We got off the subway and started walking and I saw this building that looked like a monastery. How odd, I thought. It was, of course, the Cloisters; and she timed our arrival with a lecture tour on the topic of altars. It was a wonderful visit, and I hope to return again soon.
It’s been almost 20 years since my last visit to the Cloisters. You make me want to go again! The art of Christian antiquity, though, is at the Met’s main location. God bless your daughter for that great surprise!
I went there last fall. An absolute delight. On a different topic…I read one where Dr. Hahn had given a talk to a Maronite group. It was all about the Syriac Fathers. Apparently it was quite inspiring. Any info on what he said or perhaps a transcript online somewhere?
Hmm. I don’t know, but I’ll ask him. I do know he’s fond of Aphrahat, Ephrem, and their crew.
This from Scott Hahn: “That was four or five years ago, in the middle of the Catholic Family Conference. They drove me over to the Maronite Convention, where I spoke from a couple of note cards. No notes, no tape transcripts. No help. Sorry.”