One’s perception of weird, like beauty, will depend a great deal on the beholder’s point of view. Having not been raised Catholic I’ll admit that I found a recent visit to Holy Hill slightly weird. Raised in a family with membership in a strict Lutheran synod it was not the icons themselves that had this effect on me; it was rather the contexts and signage which surrounded the icons that struck my eye as visually weird. Things like plastic bottles, and spigots coming out of rocks, with the words “Holy Water” on them – and apparently for sale – right along side the Coca Cola, etc.
I certainly believe the Carmelite Friars when they inform me that their video cameras watch me. However I rather doubt their claim that “GOD” has an interest in watching my strolling about; whether at Holy Hill or elsewhere.
(click images for larger view)
Below is a detail from the lower right corner of the above photograph.
M8, 28 mm Summicron
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Hm, apparently people have been stealing from God….I sure don’t remember so many warnings and notices of being watched back in the late 70’s. That is all pretty weird, but must say, nice images. Strange how, even though we’re not Catholic, that place, and the images are so ingrained in my memories of childhood. (Even if I was being watched…creepy)