Paintings of the organ balcony: Disciples of Emmava; The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector; Parable of the Good Samaritan; Jesus the Good Shepherd; The Parable of the Unforgiving Servants; Jesus and the centurion.
Author: Unknown
Date: 18th (1738?)
Technique: wood, oil painting
Conservation: The railing with paintings has been repainted several times. The last restoration of the painting took place in 2017.
The railings of the balcony were covered with small paintings in baroque frames depicting separate views of Christ’s life in 1738. The author of the paintings is unknown. In all the paintings, Christ is depicted with a red cloak.
The railings with paintings has been repainted several times.
Painting «Jesus and Centurions»
Jesus Christ, during his lifetime, helps different people in their lives. Jesus also responds to the request of the Roman centurion and heals his servant. This event shows that faith has a special meaning in receiving God’s help. When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you ome into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority
of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only
need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say
to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour. (Mt 8: 1-13)
Painting «The parable of the unmerciful servant»
In the Bible we can read the parables of Jesus, in which he tells about the kingdom of heaven through everyday events. This painting depicts a scene from the parable of the debtor, to whom the lord laid off his huge debt, but he did not forgive the debt of the one who owed him a small amount “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be
compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him
to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him,
‘Have patience with me, I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant
fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should
pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Mat. 18:23-35
Painting “Jesus the good shepherd”
Jesus says that he is the good shepherd. One meets diversity of ideas and people inviting us to follow them. Not always following in such a way bring good results. If we want a good direction for our life, it is significant to follow the good one. Jesus says – I am the good shepherd. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father— and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will
listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (Jn 10:11-18)
Painting “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”
One of the best known parables of Jesus is the parable of the merciful Samaritan. Jesus shows that caring for those in need is an important part of spiritual life. In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on
the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man
was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper.
‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” LK 10:30-37
The Painting “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector”
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: «God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.» But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, «God, have mercy on me, a sinner.» I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Lk 18:9-16
Painting “Jesus Teaches Nicodemus”
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. Jn 3:1-21