The world seems to be racing into an ever-growing chaos. Everywhere we turn we see increasing political division. Under such social strife lies a more profound malaise brought about by fragmenting identities,
ideological and religious confusion, the jaded vision of irony and spectacle, all culminating into a culture war that is tearing at the seams of a fragile society. On a cultural level, from our stories, to our movies and our games, the image of the monster has taken a disproportional place on the cultural horizon. What is happening? What does this mean? How can a fresh understanding of ancient cosmology and beliefs help us to make sense of what is happening to our world? Artist and symbologist Jonathan Pageau looks at the prevalence of the monster and how it is an image of our world today.

Zombies vs Icons: Art, Monsters, & the Apocalypse --- Jonathan Pageau - Furman University

The topic of “judgment” in general, and the imagery connected to it (eg, the “river of fire”, the “worm that does not die”, and “weeping and gnashing of teeth”) are concepts that are particularly troubling to we moderns. Jonathan will help us understand this through a thorough look at the symbolism and meaning in the icon of the last judgment.

St John of the Ladder Orthodox Church