Is There Any Brutality in the Byzantine Representation of Abraham’s Sacrifice?

Abstract

The episode of Abraham’s sacrifice underscores his unwavering faith/trust in his God. The biblical patriarch had to prove to the One he served that, for Him, he could give up everything he held dearest. The sacrifice of his beloved son was obediently and promptly accepted by the patriarch. As soon as he received his commandment, he headed for Mount Moriah to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. However, the sacrifice was no longer necessary. The Lord stopped the sacrifice at the last moment and the patriarch was rewarded for his faith. The artistic representation of Abraham’s sacrifice in the Byzantine iconographic tradition provides the viewer with the possibility of fathoming the mystery of this event. The artist’s/painter’s interpretation of the sacrifice highlights how Eastern Orthodox tradition has related to this terrible episode. For the contemporary viewer, the image of Abraham bringing sacrifice cannot be separated from brutality. It is difficult for him/her to understand how a father is capable of mercilessly sacrificing his son to prove his faith. However, we believe that the details engraved by Byzantine artists/painters in mosaics and on frescos can change this perspective. They capture the father’s care, the unwavering love between the patriarch and his son, the joint acceptance of the trial, self-control, total faith in the Father/father, and by no means brutality. Therefore, through this study, we wish to emphasise the theological message conveyed by Christian art and implicitly offer a model for the interpretation of Byzantine painting.