Found in the center of many magnificent duomos and cathedrals in Italy are stories of Jesus and his works on earth. His birth, resurrection and life are displayed on frescos and ceilings in painted color and carvings of gold. As a practicing Christian in the United States, religion is important to me and is a core value of my family. I grew up studying Bible stories in church and fell in love with their descriptions about God and his closeness to man. Naturally upon arriving to Italy, I quickly became fascinated with the ancient expressions of Byzantine, Gothic, and Baroque designs depicting God the Father, Jesus, angels, and heaven. When standing beneath these artworks from centuries ago, it’s easy to sit and reflect over the time and effort it must have taken to create such grand and intricate masterpieces.

During one of our program field trips to Sicily, we entered the beautiful Monreale Monastery with painted frescos covering its walls- each painting illustrating a Bible story. However, these stories were depicted without words, only with pictures. Originally as an ancient method of communication to the uneducated, these frescos served as the source of Biblical knowledge and education to the poor and illiterate during the 12^th century. When gazing up at the golden frescos of the monastery, I could have spent hours deciphering the pictures of Bible stories that I have heard and loved since childhood. This is one of many moments in Italy that broadened my perspective of Christianity across cultures, enriched my understanding of my beliefs, and caused scriptural-based stories to come to life. 

“Pictures are worth a thousand words”- Fred R. Barnard.

~ Emma Childs

Here is a picture of the Monreale Monastery we visited on our field trip to Sicily.