Dancing with Saints at St. Gregory Nyssa … further reflection

See also https://artstransformation.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/st-gregory-of-nyssa-san-francisco/

“Once there was a time when the whole rational creation formed a single dancing chorus looking upward to the one leader of this dance and the harmony of motion that they learned from his law found its way into their dancing.” – St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-395 C.E.)

In the week since I attended worship at St. Gregory Nyssa, I have found myself recommending it to others as a place to try. It was on my mind as we visited Sherith Israel, a Jewish congregation whose three homes all resembled the Christian sanctuaries of the culture in which the congregants made their home … except for the dome on the sanctuary. In addition to a liturgy inspired by the early church, St. Gregory’s draws from Orthodox Christian traditions in its building design and its decoration. The outside of the building is shown:

North Side of St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco (photo-D.Stinson)

St Gregory of Nyssa East Side (photo – D.Stinson)

This mosaic is above the entry door:

St. Gregory of Nyssa Mosaic over Entry (photo-D.Stinson)

One enters the rotunda where all gather to worship and, later, take communion. The dancing saints surround the rotunda; only a few of the 90 congregation-selected saints are depicted here.

St. Gregory of Nyssa Rotunda – Gathering for worship around the altar (photo-D. Stinson)

St Gregory of Nyssa Dancing Saints on Southeast Wall – (L-to-R): Margaret Mead, Sadi (with tiger), W.Edwards Deming, Sergius, Bacchus, Jenny Read (photo-D.Stinson)

Communion is open to ALL who wish to participate; embodying the following quote from St. Gregory Nyssa’s The Life of Moses: “The one thing truly worthwhile is becoming God’s friend.” – All are made welcome at St. Gregory Nyssa.