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Light: Advent Calendar 2023

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The Magi follow the star, 6th century, Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna,  ©MFletcher
The Magi follow the star, 6th century, Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, ©MFletcher

Daily Light-themed Artworks & Audio Commentary


The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:5)

We hope that you have enjoyed our Advent Calendar 2023 on the theme of light.

We wish you a peaceful and light-filled Christmas.

The VCS Team, December 2023


The Adoration of the Shepherds by Philippe de Champaigne

Christmas Eve: December 24

In the Depth be Praise

St Francis in the Desert by Giovanni Bellini

December 23

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Mary Magdalene by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo

December 22

The Rising Light

The Chapel of the Blessed St John of Trogir by Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino and Andrea Alessi

December 21

Emerging Into The Light

The Crucifixion by Julia Stankova

December 20

A Cruciform Life

The Agony in the Garden by El Greco

December 19

The Darkness Has Not Overcome It

2 Corinthians, from Nicholas of Lyra's Commentary on the Bible by Ugolino Marini Gibertuzzi of Sarnano

December 18

Illuminating the Letter

Still Life with Vessels by Francisco de Zurbarán

December 17

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

St Paul Saved From a Shipwreck off Malta by Benjamin West

December 16

A Fire of Some Consequence

The Calling of Saint Matthew by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

December 15

A Bringing to Light

Flight Into Egypt by Henry Ossawa Tanner

December 14

A Flight by Night

The Magi offer gifts to the Madonna and Child by Unknown Byzantine artist

December 13

The Nations will come to your Light

The Transfiguration by Theophanes the Greek and workshop

December 12

The Transfiguration

Byzantine Icon of Christ by Unknown Byzantine artist

December 11

And the Word was God

Psalm 42-43 by Diane Palley

December 10

Healing Desire

Anastasis (άνάστασις) by Giorgio Andreotta Calò

December 9

The Light of Dawn

Black City on Gold River by William Congdon

December 8

Dark's Light

Andromeda by Anselm Kiefer

December 7

The Starry Heavens Above, and the Moral Law Within

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

December 6

Reach for the Sky

Untitled by Dan Flavin

December 5

Presiding Presence

Reflections by David Wood

December 4

Father of Lights

The Trinity, from a Book of Hours by an unknown English artist

December 3

The Father and I are One

Baptistry window in Coventry Cathedral by John Piper and Nicholas Patrick Reyntiens. Photo of a floor-to-ceiling, stained glass window in Coventry Cathedral. The window consists of a grid of glass and stone, letting light in and blocking it out. Yellow glass panels in the centre are in a roughly circular shape, with greener panels surrounding them. Red dominates the vertical sides of the window, while the top is primarily dark blue. Many of the panels are a mixture of yellow, green, blue and red

December 2

Light Above Water

The Separation of Light and Dark by Michelangelo Buonarroti. God in the centre is clothed in red surrounded by four nude figures, one in each corner. The four sit in different positions atop respective stone platforms, in front of stone pillars. Two bronze shields/medallions are between them on opposing sides of the composition. God is framed by the stone pillars, shown in a contrapposto pose, and lifts his hands into the sky and separating the light from darkness.

December 1

Order from Chaos


Daily Advent Calendar Emails

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More Exhibitions

Jacob and the Angel by Jacob Epstein
Vision of the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel) by Paul Gauguin
Jakob Ringt mit den Engel (Jacob Wrestles with the Angel) by Max Beckmann

Genesis 32:22–32 Jacob Wrestling the Angel

Two Travellers by Jack B. Yeats
Tobias and the Angel by Andrea del Verrocchio and workshop
Glass fragment with Tobias and the Fish by Unknown Roman artist

Tobit 6–7 Tobias and the Angel

Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
The Annunciation by Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi
The Annunciation, by Filippo Lippi

Luke 1:26–38 The Annunciation

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