Paper short abstract:

Within this paper I aim to relate the symbolic material culture of the Byzantine Empire to the theological traditions of mneme theou (remembrance of God) and unceasing prayer. I argue that the repetitive acts of making and viewing material culture create a form of worship with spiritual benefits comparable to the evolving traditions of unceasing prayer.

Paper long abstract:

Byzantine material culture was overwhelmingly adorned with images. These symbols had social and spiritual significance beyond a public demonstration of faith, wealth and power. Symbols, like icons, had power and agency. Symbols performed magic; they were apotropaic, acting to protect their wearer, they deflected jealousy and invited good fortune. Within this paper I will argue that in addition to the accepted role of symbolic material culture in Byzantium, symbols acted as Mneme Theou (reminders of God) and therefore that there is a relationship between the symbolic world of Byzantium and unceasing prayer.

The nature of the materials and technologies used for objects inscribed with symbols of God impacted on the engagement between people and objects. For example the looms used to weave cloth were not only functional objects, but created a repetitive action, analogous to the repetition of the Jesus prayer, creating an act of worship along with cloth. The act of weaving a scene of great significance, over and over, and then viewing the produced repetitive symbol is not a distanced act, but one in which people were actively engaged. It is the nature of this engagement which I wish to discuss, not in terms of textile technology as a 'functional' product of society, but rather how the religious beliefs of the producer may have been expressed during the act of making, and whether this form of worship was related to First Thessalonians 5:17 "pray constantly".