Explore the revival of Orthodox art as a reaction to cultural decay, where beauty and meaning reclaim their place. The discussion highlights how genuine artistic expression can transcend mere consumption and make a profound connection to spirituality. Delve into the importance of fairy tales and children's literature in nurturing creativity and family bonds. The speaker critiques modern adaptations and urges a return to traditional storytelling that enriches cultural identity. Join the journey towards artistic mastery and the transformative power of liturgy.
01:12:11
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Finding Christ in Ancient Texts
Jonathan Pageau shares his discovery of Orthodoxy through ancient Sibylline texts, highlighting Christianity's hidden threads in pagan works.
This experience illustrates how early Christians found Christ within unexpected cultural narratives, affirming faith's deep historical roots.
insights INSIGHT
Cultural Decay Breeds Opportunity
Modern culture is collapsing in art, music, and storytelling, reducing creativity to repetitive cycles of fashion and distraction.
This decay creates fertile ground to plant new, meaningful cultural seeds rooted in deeper traditions.
insights INSIGHT
Art as Consumable Product
Modern art often treats art as a consumable product, consumers passively absorbing entertainment.
This commodification leads art to follow fleeting fashion trends rather than enduring sacred purpose.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
This book follows Loris, a boy in foster care, as he navigates his journey with courage and kindness. It is an educational and social-emotional story designed to help children understand big ideas like resilience and overcoming fears.
Shrek
[the novel]
Ellen Weiss
This book is a junior novelization of the popular Dreamworks movie 'Shrek'. It tells the story of Shrek, an ogre who prefers to live alone in his swamp but is disrupted by various fairy tale creatures. Shrek embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower, accompanied by an uninvited companion, Donkey. The story follows their adventures and the eventual promise made by Lord Farquaad to grant Shrek a boon for his rescue mission.
In this talk at the Orthodox Arts Festival of 2025, I share my vision for a renewal of Orthodox Christian art rooted in meaningful participation and true celebration. We are living through the collapse of modern aesthetics—art has become propaganda, entertainment, and distraction. But this cultural decomposition presents an opportunity for something truly transformative.
Orthodox art offers a profound alternative: not art as consumption or rebellion, but as participation, celebration, and enlightenment. Drawing on my work in children's literature, icon carving, and popular storytelling, I explore how we can reintegrate beauty, memory, and the sacred into every level of artistic creation—from liturgy to fairy tales.
If you're an artist, a parent, or simply someone longing for a more meaningful creative world, I invite you to join me in rediscovering what art is really for—and how it can lead us back to God.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/WkQ1PP421nM 🕯️ Discover our books, courses, and more at http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 📖 Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch
NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. - Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025 - Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total - Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality
🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
The Symbolic World 
