Foundations of Faith 4b - THE HOLY TRINITY (PART 2)

 Notes summarised from

1. The Study: "Foundations of Faith : A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church" (Workbook pages 35-37)
2. Notes from "Overview of Catholic Theology", Rev Fr Michael Chan

The Trinity, called The Hospitality of Abraham

Russian painter Andrei Rublev (1360 - around1427)

The term Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, but the revelation of a Trinitarian God is understood in Gen 18.

Genesis 18:1-8

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks  of Mamre…..He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.”  So, they said, “Do as you have said.” …

About Andrei Rublev's painting

Rublev’s icon depicts this scene with three angels, similar in appearance, sitting around a table. 

In the background is the house of Abraham as well as an oak tree that stands behind the three guests. 

On the table in the center is a golden bowl or chalice containing the calf Abraham prepared for his guests. 

Rublev used the biblical episode to make a visual representation of the Trinity that fit within the strict guidelines of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Effectively illustrated that God is One Divine Being comprising Three Divine Persons — not one Person with three attributes:

• Using angels -  the nature of God, who is pure spirit.

• The 3 angels are identical in appearance - the oneness of God in three Persons

• Each angel is wearing a different garment - how each Person of the Trinity is distinct. 

By using the same figures to represent each Divine Person -  the painter emphasizes their equality while symbolizing the tri-unity of all three Persons and underscoring the undifferentiated Divine Essence.

The angels are shown from left to right - in the order that we profess our faith in the Creed: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

• The first angel - blue undergarment (divine nature of  God), purple outer garment (the Father’s kingship)

• The second angel - wearing the clothes typically worn by Jesus, crimson colour (Christ’s humanity), blue colour (his divinity)

• The third angel – blue garment (divinity), green vestment (colour of the earth, the Holy Spirit’s mission of renewal).  Green is also the liturgical color worn on Pentecost in the Orthodox and Byzantine tradition. 

Slight bowed heads of the two angels on the right - illustrating the fact that the Son and Spirit come from the Father.

The oak tree behind the angel - reminds us of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden as well as the cross upon which Christ saved the world from the sin of Adam.

The table in the center - resembles an altar. 

The golden bowl or chalice on the table - contains the calf Abraham prepared for his guests and the central angel appears to be blessing the meal. All of that combined reminds us of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

While not the most direct representation of the Holy Trinity, it is one of the most profound visualizations ever produced. 

It remains in the Orthodox and Byzantine traditions the primary way to depict the Triune God. The icon is even held in high esteem in the Roman Catholic Church and is frequently used by catechists to teach others about the mystery of the Trinity.

The Trinity is a mystery and will always be so while we are on earth. However, sometimes we are given glimpses into God’s divine life, and Rublev’s icon allows us a brief second to peek behind the veil.

LInk to EWTN explanation of this iconic painting

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/andrei-rublevs-trinity-icon-10158

A short note about the concept of persons and nature

PERSON - Who it is - the subject eg Peter, Christina

NATURE - What a thing is- the essence, the being, what it is mean to be, eg cat, dog, table

Think in terms of DNA – we all have DNA of a human, yet we are different in nature.