Ravenna

We visited two very interesting churches on our excursion, with mosaics that date back to the 500's and 600's AD. We had a very good tour guide, who gave a very solid witness to Jesus as the Savior in her talks about the mosaics. The churches here are heavily influenced by Eastern Orthodoxy since the Byzantines conquered this are in 493 AD and occupied it during the time these churches were built. Many of the mosaics include both religious and secular leaders or show religious people in typical Byzantine garb.

We have to many mosaic pictures to post, but this one of Moses and Isaac is representative. Realize that each mosaic was made by pressing small pieces of glass into fresh plaster so time is if the essence for the artists. On the left you have Sarai with Abram feeding the three angelic visitors, and on the right you have the sacrifice of Isaac with the hand of the Lord coming down to stop Abram's knife with the lamb close at Abram's feet. We also saw individual mosaics of the 12 apostles, Abel and Melchizadek (evidence of eastern influence), Jesus at the Resurrection, and many more.

A second mosaic shows the three wise men following the star and bearing gifts. Again, the Byzantine influence even names the three.

We were back on board by noon so we had lunch and relaxed on board ship. I played some water volleyball, did a putting exercise while Mary got some sun. After dinner we watched an excellent production show and are now back in our room. Tomorrow we arrive in Dubrovnik, Croatia at noon and have a short excursion after that.