During the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from the 5th Century AD to the fall of its capital, Constantinople, in the year 1453, many Christian churches were constructed. These churches were lavishly decorated on the interior by large mosaics, images formed by small pieces of colored glass that were affixed to the walls and ceilings, that depicted both narratives from the Bible and icons that were venerated by the faithful who believed them to have miraculous powers. Many of these narratives and icons were used to relay messages about the Christian faith to its followers through style, symbolism and underlying iconography. One church in particular, the Monastery of Hosios Loukas in Stiris, Greece, exemplifies the mosaic style of the late Byzantine period in its mosaics entitled: Pentecost and the Mother of God. This double mosaic is located on two adjacent domes in the vault of the monastery's apse. Its use of Christian symbolism and the characteristic Byzantine styles conveys to the viewer both a narrative and a depiction of an icon. The narrative recounts how Christian beliefs descended to each of the apostles from the Holy Spirit while they were gathered for the Pentecost. The ico

The style of the Byzantine Period adds to the message of these mosaics in many ways. The setting, composition and defining characteristics of the people all exemplify traditional Christian Byzantine art and help in the interpretation of this piece. The setting, or lack there of in this case, defines the aura of the scene. The space is inventive with its golden reflections and depiction of an otherworldly realm thought to be Heaven. There is no background setting. The figures and spatial areas are all floating around in the air like an astronaut in space which convey to the viewer that this scene is of unnatural powers and is that of spiritual wonderment. The figures on the outside of the two spheres, with their eyes all gazing upward, act as compositional devices to manipulate the audience to look above them to the Heavenly Orb. Also, the manner in which both the eyes' of the Virgin Mary and of the Christ Child peek out into the audience pierce the viewer and connect them to each other in a powerfully spiritual way. The Byzantine style to depict figures is characteristically used in this mosaic. The people are shown with the typical Byzantine large elongated eyes, geometrically patterned drapes and classical proportionate bodies but extremely elongated heads and torsos. This shows their little interest in realistic representations of reality. They focused more on the spiritual feeling and message one receives from the art instead of the naturalistic aspects of it.

In Byzantine mosaic art there are two ways in which to convey messages to the viewer, literally and symbolically. The literal message of the dome vault mosaic just above the alter, called the Pentecost, is to depict the narrative of the Bible story in which the apostles receive the knowledge of Christ through the decent of the Holy Spirit. The literal message of the mosaic above the Pentecost, Theotokos and Child, is to reveal an icon that creates reverence in worship. Also, it glorifies the Virgin Mary and depicts Jesus as both the Son of God and the Son of Man. The symbolic message that is trying to be portrayed to the viewer through the Pentecost scene is that of Gods promise of life after death to the followers of the Christian faith. The symbolic purpose of the icon image, enthroned Theotokos and Chi

Some common words found in the essay are:
Virgin Mary, Mother God, Century AD, Christianity Bible, Osios Loukas, Christian Byzantine, Christ Child, Spirit Holy, Heaven Mary, Holy Spirit, christian faith, holy spirit, mother god, virgin mary, pentecost mother god, pentecost mother, christ child, golden halos, sphere containing, son christ, monastery hosios, monastery hosios loukas, late byzantine period, salvation life everlasting, symbolism characteristic byzantine,
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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)