By Lenore Christopher

DAYTON DEANERY - Trinity Center in Dayton, home to a number of regional archdiocesan offices, has a second commissioned canvas banner on display by iconographer Joseph Malham, both created in conjunction with annual catechetical conferences sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

"The Old Testament Trinity," originally written in the 15th century by Russian iconographer Adrei Rublev, is a recent gift from the Transfiguration Center for Spiritual Renewal in Ludlow Falls, courtesy of the center's Program Director Curtis Kneblik.

COURTESY PHOTO

Old Testament trinity

Kneblik commissioned the Old Testament Trinity artwork for display at the Oct. 26 conference in Dayton and distributed copies of a brochure about the Transfiguration Center which had, as its first page, a reproduction of the Trinity icon created by Malham,

The Transfiguration Center building and grounds is the former home and estate of Kathryn Lange, whose bequest to Transfiguration Church in West Milton requires that the property be used as a retirement home for priests, a nature preserve and retreat center.

Retirement duplexes for the priests are located to the west of the main building; the nature preserve and former gardens have been restored; and the renovated building welcomes group meetings and days of recollection.

A former caretaker's cottage, now called Elijah House, adjacent to the main building and the rose garden, has been renovated as a private retreat, ideal for an individual or married couple.

Following the recent conference, Kneblik presented the banner to the Trinity Center and the OEC staff.

"Based on the scene in Genesis where Abraham and Sara are visited by three mysterious guests under the terebinth tree at Mamre, the Old Testament Trinity was seen by the church fathers as a prefiguring of the Holy Trinity of the New Testament," stated Malham.

"Seated around a table in the noonday sun," he writes, "the three angels (dressed in the garb of Byzantine courtiers and carrying the staff of a pilgrim) form a circle, a bond of love and harmony centered around a chalice-like bowl containing meat, yet clearly representing the Eucharist.

"The angel on the left, dressed in a salmon robe, represents the Father; the diaphanous, ethereal drapery representing the ineffable, infinitely unknowable nature of God.

"The angel on the right, dressed in green and blue, is the Spirit: the colors of his garment representing the Spirit's omnipresence both on earth and in the heavens.

"Seated in the corner and along with the Spirit, gazing lovingly toward the Father on the left is the Son. His garments are those most often associated with Christ in Eastern iconography: blue for royalty and red for sacrifice. This (is) a theme underscored more clearly by His blessing of the bowl of meat, a prefiguring of the eucharistic mystery and his own self-sacrifice on the cross."

Malham added, "As in all icons, the Old Testament Trinity bespeaks silence, peace, harmony and an invitation beyond the surface narrative into the eternal truths unfolding within. A quiet contemplation of the work will draw the viewer into the scene, into the bond of unbroken unity and allow them to take the empty space on this side of the table and share in the eternal, unspoken communion of love."

Originally trained to write icons on wooden panels using egg tempera and 24-carat gold leaf for churches and private devotion, Malham devotes increased time to creating large canvas banners for liturgical seasons and processions. He also works with Aktas on commissions.

"We are definitely getting back to image-based liturgical art," he said. "Icons are a vehicle of prayer, not an end to themselves. Their timelessness is going to remain and will continue to draw people to their power and beauty," Malham said in an earlier interview with The Catholic Telegraph.

For information on icons, contact Malham at joemalham@hotmail.com or call 773-561-3546 at St. Gregory Church in Chicago, Ill.

For information on two upcoming retreats at the Transfiguration Center - "Isaiah: Our Advent Prophet," Dec. 6, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with Father Tim Schehr; and "Advent: What Are You Waiting For?" Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with Dominican Father Matthew Walsh" - call 937-698-7180 or visit www.transfigurationcenter.com.