Synoro, The Orthodox thought on modern art, Issue 31, (1964), 88 pages.
This issue of Synoro dedicates its 4 studies to the examination of the importance and the possibilities of contemporary art in the light of Orthodox tradition. The issue opens with the text of Kostis Gartzou “Contemporary architecture and Orthodoxy” in which there are reflections on contemporary architecture of temples. Gartzos after referring to the historical development of the Christian temple, which achieved to express the worshipping function of the building through the exploitation of materials and techniques of the various historical periods, he criticizes the uncritical use of new materials that replaced the old ones and which, having different possibilities and aesthetics, create buildings which are inelegant and irrelevant to their theological identity. The writer’s opinion is that the study of new materials, their possibilities and right use can attribute new forms in temple building in the context of the live worshipping orthodox tradition.
Paul Evdokimov is the writer of the second study under the title “Contemporary art or the stultification of wisdom” which refers to the progressive dis-sanctification of ecclesiastic but also secular iconographic art in the West, initially after the 13th century. It also refers to the weakness of its creative development in the East where the mimicry and imitation of older icons failed to connect contemporary art and its demands with the sacred.
The third essay of the issue with the title “Modern art in the liturgical space” is signed by Chr. Yannaras who distinguishes the “religious” art of Christian West from the “theological” art of the East. The writer recognising the modern art of the West as an effort of resistance against religious conformism points out its weakness to escape from the personal field and adhere in the ecclesiastic one. He proposes adherence to the Byzantine tradition until contemporary modern art kneads with the ecclesiastic experience and attributes acceptable results.
Nikos Zias in the “Diagram of terminology of modern art” that follows attempts mostly a concise informative report that is also critical of the most important currents of the so-called modern art (impressionism, expressionism etc).
In the issue are also published: the narratives “Fairy tale of ’64” by D. Konstantinos - Christodoulou, the Christmas narrative “Kai egeneto espera kai egeneto proi…”by Heinriech Böll in translation of Tasos Romanos and “The house” of A. Kostakou - Arvaniti. Keti Chiotelli in the next pages dedicated in poetry translates Christmas hymns in Modern Greek while poems of Andreas Aggelakis and Nikos D. Triantafillopoulos are published, as well as four poems of P.V. Paschos.
In the permanent informative column “Epikera” (pp. 268-277) criticism is practised on the absence of theological speech by the ecclesiastic men of the time (members of the Holy Synod). There are presentations of new publications and critique of selected theatrical performances.