Lavra Nebesnaya (is a symbol Lavra abode on Heavens)
Materials: silver, gold, diamonds, amethyst, topaz, tiger’s eye, bull’s eye, lapis lazuli, charoite, jasper, cacholong, wenge wood, amaranth wood.
Author of the project and leading artist – Ms Irina Karpova.
Artist – Mr. Alexander Tarnovsky.
Chief master – Sergey Doroshenko.
The work had been created over 2 years by the team of 24 masters.
The Word of Lavra Nebesnaya
Apure and plain Orthodox prayer, dedicated to the Saints, beautifully perfect, reflecting the connection between man and God – the source of the truth and power of life. Magnificent true names, sounds of harmony, perfect fine art and sculptural images that reveal the high spiritual reality.
The word “Nebesnaya” in the meaning “ne-bes” (“without devil”), in other words “flawless” or “perfect” is hard to translate into foreign languages. The words “cloud” or “:clouds” floating above in the sky fail to describe the perfection and deep meaning corresponding to the powerful spiritual phenomenon of Kyiv Lavra.
An important role in the life of every orthodox man being under the holy protection of “Holy Rus”” is played by Holy Assumption Kyiv Lavra. In spiritual world it is considered to be the Lavra Nebesnaya, Consequently, the installation of the classic Jewellery House “Lobortas and Karpova” even during the process of creation obtained this name.
In “Lavra Nebesnaya” there is nothing superfluous, the image symbolism is laconic. Plenty of working elements, technical complexity of applied jewellery skills, using various materials bring our consciousness to the awareness of the triune Lord – Father, and Son and Holy Spirit depicted as a dove soaring above the rays of inimitable diamonds. Of Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary in “Lavra Nebesnaya” reminds “The Star of the Holy Virgin” placed below. As if guarding Lavra there are Reverends Antony and Feodosy Pecherskye whose figures in “Lavra Nebesnaya” are located on a cross-shaped plinth left and right of the central image – the unique amethyst Druze bound in silver symbolizing, with the help of wonderful purple-lilac gems’ flashing, the rich world of true monks and spiritually authorized elders of Orthodox Church. It’s there the “spiritual fire” is shining and the Holy Spirit is dwelling – invincible, eternal, evil resistant, swift like a dove in the heaven.
The earthly “Heavenly Lavra” is inextricably linked with the heavenly abode “Lavra Nevesnaya”. The top of the jewellery composition “of topaz clouds“ is crowned by gold crosses above the silhouettes of the Assumption Cathedral, the temples of Upper Lavra and Great Lavra Chapel. The bulk of “the true diamonds – the souls of Kyiv-Pechersk reverends” glorified by the Orthodox Church attracts our attention here. They are beyond the Earth, in the Heaven Kingdom. Lavra Nebesnaya is the landmark of the Heaven Kingdom for Orthodox souls on Earth. In Orthodox Church the soul of a Christian can approach the supreme spiritual reality and realize the supreme calling of its existence in this world.
Praise Lord for everything!
Text writer Paul Lashkevich