Sometimes in the Gospel narratives people blurt out things that appear to be mistakes but end up being prophetical. (The Feast of the Transfiguration, Great Vespers, Aposticha). And this would be the moment The union that this mosaic affirms is not just between God and man and matter, but also between the all faithful throughout time. Here in our mosaic we see a garden made according to this same divine pattern of a perfect imperfection, and not a sterile symmetry. Painting as Prayer, The Art of A. Sophrony Sakharov, Lighting in Orthodox Churches: Liturgical Principles and Practical Ideas, Being, The Art and Life of Father Sophrony, Holy Tables with Reliquaries, a Short History, The Mosaic Apse of SantApollinaire in Classe, Ravenna, A Year of Exploring Ancient Carving Through Drawing . In Aramaic it explicitly refers to a royal park. Christ the symbols of the four Evangelists. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2004, page 19. The mosaic gives us adumbrations of this cosmic transfiguration. But bees also represent communal transformative labour, since the work of the hive changes nectar into honey. Add to this the emerald green and you feel embraced by the garden. And just to the right this gift from your most holy Church. But he also dressed like a Roman senator, his toga bearing the senatorial a shoulder to hem stripe. The Father has raised us up with Christ and made us sit with Him in heavenly places. I thank the Opera Religion of the Diocese of Ravenna for its hospitality and availability. In this article I would like to discuss some of these layers. When the church was Aaron with the tabernacle. its nave wall decorations. Such is the case when Mary Magdalene mistakes the risen Christ for a gardener: Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? All is culminated in the material wax becoming immaterial fire in praise of God. The city of Classe and the Holy Virgins Procession, mosaic, north wall, lower level, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo (UNESCO World Heritage List, 1996), Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna. St Irenaeus reminds us that though Adam and Eve were sinless before the fall they were not yet perfect. In this context it is worthwhile tracing the development of the word paradise, since the many associations it has accrued over time are present in our mosaic. The ultimate purpose of Christs incarnation is our deification, our union with Him. The Sacrifices of Abel, Melchizedek, and Abraham+Isaac, at SantApollinare in Clase7th century. While the fleets of the unified Roman Empire faced few great naval threats, operating as a policing force vastly inferior in . The mosaic aims to encompass not just the beginning but also the end, the fulfilment of Gods work of salvation in Christ. All is culminated in the material wax becoming immaterial fire in praise of God. which glowing fire ignites for Gods honour, The mosaic is a profound theological discourse. The Two Faces of Jesus - How the early church pictured the divine, Robert M. Jensen, BR 18:05, Oct 2002. Their authority therefore exists not to subjugate and oppress their medium, but to raise it up and make it even more articulate. This Arian church was originally dedicated in 504 AD to 'Christ the Redeemer'. It is at once historical, liturgical and eschatological (a fancy word which means the theology of the end times). Of much greater significance, however, are the sumptuous mosaics that cover the walls of the nave. A hand symbolizing the voice of the Father. We had work to do in paradise. The Cross: Christs Second Coming in glory, The jewelled Cross, sign of Christs transfiguration, crucifixion and Second Coming. These delighted my senses, but at the same time inflamed my curiosity to find their source and enter this garden. Christs transfiguration therefore indicates a return to this natural supernatural state of the human person. 6th century (Original mosaics ca. This sign of the Son of Man has been understood by the Church Fathers to be the cross. This is an appropriate scene, both because of the Holy Liturgy that is celebrated in front of it and because of our mosaics priestly and regal theme. the capital city had been moved to Ravenna, bearded man with gold halo, cross [symbol of martyrdom], book; striped tunic [dalmatica] worn by deacons and bishops, mantle [pallium] conferred on bishop by Pope; cupboard with gospel books; metal grille w/fire, because Lawrence was grilled alive, Christ is a beardless youth, long hair, halo; holding cross in one hand, feeding lamb; in gold and purple as an imperial figure; pose reflects both Christian and classical (Orpheus) imagery, style of mosaics (Mausoleum of Galla Placidia), Late Antique Roman; impressionistic, illusionistic; floor, space, depth, perspective, small; dark blue background; 567 8-pointed stars in concentric circles; gold cross, arms pointing eastward, seven stars (of the Apocalypse or planets), four symbols of the Evangelists, shaped like a pinecone, sign of immortality. the name was different. This sign of the Son of Man has been understood by the Church Fathers to be the cross. The upper tier: Christ and the four living creatures. the Father], and the image of God is the Son, in whose image man was created. He also wears also a simple crown to denote his regal status as king of Salem. The Journal covers visual arts, music, On the right is Archbishop Reparatus (671-677), receiving from the Emperor the scroll with its promise of privileges. The some who stand here are Peter, James and John. Photos by Steven Zucker. Stylistically, these mosaics. What change was introduced in the mosaics of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo? (C) borrowed The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage-listed Church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo has some of the most impressive and interesting Late Antiquity and Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna, Italy. There are in fact ninety-nine stars in our mosaic. While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). line is Saint Martin, to whom this church was rededicated after the Ostrogoths were vanquished. Two saints are set in this golden sea, pointing to Christ. It is enacted in the Holy Liturgy that is performed within its embrace, for the mosaic is after all in an apse and therefore surrounds the sanctuary and Holy Table. - [Steven] Just imagine The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was included in the list of Italian World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1996. - [Beth] The mosaic that we see furthest towards the east end of the They went up onto a mountain to pray. an evening sacrifice of praise, As Metropolitan Kallistos Ware has written, One is priest (Christ); some are priests (the ordained clergy); all are priests (the laity). The Church can prophetically oppose a secular power that acts contrary to Gods commandments, but it can also accept material assistance from it if this genuinely aids the Churchs spiritual work and benefits peoples lives. Christ the symbols of the four Evangelists. Mosaico di scuola ravennate italo-bizantina, completato entro il 526 d.C. dal cosiddetto 'maestro di Sant'Apollinare'. Whom do you seek? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.. The combo ticket includes a small museum on site, as well as the churches of San Vitale and Galla Placidia. Through the Spirit dwelling within them and transfiguring them He will be closer than if He were present only in the flesh as a human individual. Global shipping available. How are we to understand the large figure of Saint Apollinare (identified by the inscription SANCTVS APOLENARIS)? This is graphically affirmed by two passages in the ancient hymn Exsultet, sung in the Western Church by a deacon in front of the Paschal candle. Dura-Europos, 3rd century, Caiaphas the high priest. A mountaintop is a place of ecstasy, from which we eventually have to descend. (remains, remain), Early Christian, 417-421; Church of Santa Croce, Ravenna; Placidia wasn't actually buried there, but was a patron of it; made of spolia/reused bricks; may have also been a memorial chapel, may have been buried in San Vitale; 13th century held that she was buried in the mausoleum; most likely buried in Rome in St. Peter's, windows first glass, now alabaster; barrel vaults in the equal cross arms; originally made of ancient yellow marble; large sarcophagi, probably last few Roman emperors. Here in Johns Gospel, Mary Magdalene is trying to find God. After he had communed with God and received the tablets of the law on Sinai, Moses had to leave the summit and descend back down to the encamped Israelites. On the south wall of the apse is a depiction of the priest king Melchizedek. On the south wall of the apse is a depiction of the priest king Melchizedek. They delight the beholder immediately but at the same time possess layer upon layer of meaning, which reveal themselves only to the patient. 53249) and SantApollinare Nuovo, Ravenna (c. 490). I am a mosaicist myself, and have noticed that these smalti glass tesserae, especially the green ones, are somewhat more translucent than modern smalti. The mosaic gives us adumbrations of this cosmic transfiguration. Why the stars, and why are the clouds coloured? And although there is that green landscape that they're standing in with flowers and palm trees between This theme of priestly offering is further developed by our mosaic, but we shall discuss this a bit later. For, as St Paul so poetically writes, the Father raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Our mosaic garden has a pleasing blend of orderliness and variation. In this mosaic, the angel are surrounding the bearded Jesus. Write in the blank the linking verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject of each sentence. He did not want to overwhelm us. Deeply rooted in the classical tradition. (D) destroyed. In SantApollinare Nuovo, the faces and hands in several of the Christ scenes are set not with glass tesserae but with cubes of stone. But what of its many differences? This theme of beginning and end is further alluded to by the depiction (executed in the 7th century) of Jerusalem and Bethlehem atop the triumphal arch. The Basilica of SantApollinare Nuovo was also erected by Theuderic. 456 sentences with 'Greek cross'. The hand above would therefore indicate the voice of the Father, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him (Matthew 17:5). They represent Peter, James and John whom Christ took onto mount Tabor to witness His transformation. Quite remarkably, close inspection of the little golden designs on Saint Apollinares chasuble reveals that they are in fact bees. Sightseeing and enjoying these beauties is a privilege. $12.95 . Because this image is so multivalenced I think the simplest approach is to work verse by verse through Lukes description of the Transfiguration and see how the mosaic interprets his words. It is clear from their branch collars that the larger trees in the mosaic have been pruned. By the 6th century BC the Assyrians had adopted it as pardesu, domain. why was the mausoleum a location for imperial burials? These bishops, together with Saint Apollinare (the first bishop of Ravenna), serve to locate within the apostolic succession each priest who celebrates in the basilica. On the left side are the secular authorities: the emperor and his brothers Heraclius and Tiberius, with a fourth figure holding a ciborium. 561, some restorations done in mid-19th century) Church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy. It is a place of intimacy, a place to dwell and enjoy. But, as we shall see, these themes are nevertheless theologically implicit in the mosaics explicit linking of the Transfiguration with the Holy Liturgy and the Lords Second Coming. As we have discussed, our mosaic concentrates on the purpose of events in Christs life, and not just the events themselves. Abel the shepherd stands to his right and offers a lamb, and Abraham to his left offers his son Isaac. Above him is a great golden cross set within in an orb of star speckled blue. The highest trees are arranged in a row along the top, at a similar distance from each other but not precisely so, and each is a little different from the others. Collectively we are that lost sheep, and the good angels are the ninety-nine sheep not lost. Last Supper - Sant'Apollinare Nuovo - Ravenna. Quite remarkably, close inspection of the little golden designs on Saint Apollinares chasuble reveals that they are in fact bees (see figure 13). It is enacted in the Holy Liturgy that is performed within its embrace, for the mosaic is in an apse and therefore surrounds the sanctuary and Holy Table. It was erected by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great, image c.1880's. RM M10Y23 - Statue of Jesus Christ Basilica Di Sant Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna Italy. a fire into many flames divided, Eight is thus a symbol of the created world assumed into the divine life, in a union without confusion. His hands are raised in the orans gesture. The union that this mosaic affirms is not just between God and man and matter, but also between the all faithful throughout time. The platytera in the apse; pantokrator in the dome; etc, although of course traditional and significant, are not the only things we can put in our churches. He stands behind an altar with two loaves and a chalice. What does all this imagery mean? Apollinaris of Ravenna (Italian: Apollinare; Greek: , Apollinarios, Late Latin: Apolenaris) is a Syrian saint, whom the Roman Martyrology describes as "a bishop who, according to tradition, while spreading among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ, led his flock as a good shepherd and honoured the Church of Classis near Ravenna by a glorious martyrdom." My first encounter with this mosaic I can best liken to smelling a host of fragrances that had drifted over the wall of a concealed garden. As with the eighth day Resurrection, the childs eighth day circumcision is the first day of his everlasting membership of Gods community. This Arian church was dedicated in 504 to Christ the Redeemer in Ravenna Italy on November 4 2012. of highlighting new artists and works through I so enjoyed reading this article and found it not only educational but spiritually moving. It is where we are in intimate communion with God. And yet it also possesses dynamism, movement and life. scenes of the life of Christ. But here His voice is suggested by the presence of a hand reaching down from the golden heavens (see figure 5). B were changed at that point to reflect Orthodox beliefs and to erase what was felt The shrubs, rocks and flowering plants are likewise arranged, with a perfect imperfection. The number ninety-nine appears again in the Bible and offers a second, complementary layer of meaning. So this hymn traces the stages from God-given nectar, to the work bees transforming nectar into honey and wax, followed by mans work to change the wax into candle. They are generally taken to indicate Christs Second Coming, for He will come like the sun rising. Let us put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. (He did not know what he was saying.). The upper tier. But everything about this apse suggests a schema extremely well thought out and multivalenced. Moses and Elijah are depicted plainly either side of the cross. And finally, the walls of the whole basilica would have been another level of enclosure since originally the basilica would have been or at least have intended to be - full of mosaic, thus making its whole interior a garden. All this fecundity is finally embraced and contained by a broad arch of foliage that supports a host of birds, singing no doubt. In the internal faade of the basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is exhibited a rectangular fragment of detached mosaic depicting a sovereign: he is in a frontal position surrounded by a golden halo and with his head adorned with a pearl diadem and precious stones from which the pendilia (hanging chains) descend. In Christian art stars usually symbolize angels. Magnificent Basilica. It is at once historical, liturgical and eschatological (a fancy word which means the study of the end times). But the wonderful thing is that this mosaic depicts not just the event, but also the meaning of the event its many meanings. The Scriptures after all end in the city of God coming down out of heaven to earth, radiant in its fullness, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp (Rev. Picture 1 of 5. . Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo: Mosaics! And when we looked down the Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna (Italy) San Vitale and the Justinian Mosaic Empress Theodora, rhetoric, and Byzantine primary sources Art and architecture of Saint Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai Woman with Scroll Byzantine Mosaic of a Personification, Ktisis Ivory Panel with Archangel A divine hand reaches down from the summit of the semi-dome. Likewise, Christ returned to the world with His three disciples after His Transfiguration. a. emperor in Constantinople sent his general to get Eight is thus a symbol of the created world assumed into the divine life, in a union without confusion. But our mosaic gives no indication of such a mountain. There are in fact ninety-nine stars in our mosaic. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. There's tremendous detail in And the wonderful thing is that this mosaic depicts not just the event, but also the meaning of the event its many meanings. Lukes mention of eight days is a further affirmation of this interpretation. The number ninety-nine appears again in the Bible and offers a second, complementary layer of meaning. Date palms, symbols of paradise, fruitfulness and victory. Above him is a great golden cross set within in an orb of star speckled blue. - [Beth] The church began Every ministry that Bishops, priests and lay possess is in fact a participation in Christs ministry. The Lords command to Adam and Eve to fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28) needs to be understood in just this transformative sense. In the Southeast corner, you have Christ on a throne surrounded by four angels and opposite that is another Mosaic of Christ Enthroned with Angels, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy: Date: 26 August 2011, 06:01: Source: Mosaic of Christ Enthroned with Angels, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy: Author: Sharon Mollerus Through incorporation in the Body of Christ and through our Eucharistic life, all matter can be transfigured. This mechanical repetition is tiring to our eyes, he said. Another clue to this link between the Lords Transfiguration and His Second Coming is His other statement, eight days before the Transfiguration: Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. The most immediate meaning of these words is understood by most commentators to refer to Christs coming Transfiguration. a depiction it is. Updates? Constantinople was Orthodox. To this theme we shall now turn. So these stars are effectively the cloud of heavenly hosts who will accompany Christ at His Parousia. Which word could best replace allocatedallocatedallocated in line 10 ? Absolutely! This is the right wall of the nave. St Apollinare himself is clothed in a brilliant white dalmatic under his chasuble. Secondly, the curvature of the apse itself is a form of enclosure. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo: Right Side of the Nave. But we shall come to these later. Or to use another analogy, as spiritual gardeners we are to cultivate the wild and wonderful world into a garden. This Privilegia mosaic encapsulates the Orthodox ideal of symphony between Church and state. Ravenna shows us all the beauty of early Christian mosaics in beautiful basilicas, churches, chapels and museums. This mosaic shows Jesus standing in a hilly landscape. - Permanence. Here is the wine, this is He's built this extraordinary church and here he would pray, here Both the mosaic and the synoptic Gospel accounts affirm that the Transfiguration was in fact a foretaste given to the three apostles and to us of His coming again in glory to establish His Kingdom without end. Our mosaic concentrates not so much on the event as on its outcome, its purpose. Shepherds with sheep and goats, apse mosaic, San Clemente, Rome, 1130s. So our mosaic suggests a link between this promise to Abraham and the kingdom to come, in which the faithful from many nations are gathered into the New Jerusalem, the kingdom of God, to live in an everlasting covenant with Christ. 3. File: Mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.jpg There, according to the Genesis account, God placed us humans and give us the task to cultivate it. The purpose of His incarnation was to gather all creation into Himself, and in particular to unite our human nature with His own divine nature. All eight buildings - the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Neonian Baptistery, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Arian Baptistery, the Archiepiscopal . Others may or may not have been: we will never know for certain because the designer did not write his or her explanation. Luke tells us that eight days before His Transfiguration (Matthew and Mark say six), Christ spoke to His disciples of His Second Coming, saying that He would come in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. And there is something about this mosaic that gives a sense of completion, wholeness, permanence. Bishop Apollinare is celebrating the liturgy. Date palms, symbols of paradise, fruitfulness and victory. Firstly, the apsidal dome mosaic is bounded by a broad decorative band. . [2] English translation from the Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. They each have halos around their heads. Their presence confirms the reading of the apse as a paradise, regained by Christ through the victorious cross. The mosaic aims to encompass not just the beginning but also the end, the fulfilment of Gods work of salvation in Christ. 1 / 13 Mausoleum of Galla Placidia The number eight arises again in this context, linking the Abrahamic covenant with the Transfiguration and Resurrection: God commands the Israelites to circumcise all their males eight days after their birth (17:12). but in the fifth century they occupied Italy and We recall that not only did Christs person shine with light on Tabor, but also His inanimate garments. (B) assigned The eighth day resurrection therefore takes human nature beyond the endless trapped cycle of the seven day week. 6th century. It embraces you. yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, The other one is in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore. God the Father ought not be depicted, for He was not incarnate. Corrections? The way that the holy bishop and martyr is set within the scene suggests that he has a broader significance. The apse is instead devoid of mosaics as it was destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt later. Each side are the four winged creatures, each holding a Gospel. They are labelled Moses and Elijah (MOYSES and HbELYAS to be precise), and it is they who appeared with Christ during the Transfiguration. Melchizedeks garment is identical to those worn by high priests Aaron in the third century fresco at Dura-Europos and Caiaphas in the sixth century mosaic in nearby SantApollinare Nuovo. In this case, He has become the Gardener in Eden. Either side of the crosss arms are the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the alphabet. Change country: . - [Beth] These were foreigners. (jazzy piano music). In Christian art stars usually symbolize angels. [2] English translation from the Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The wise artist or craftsperson uses their power over the medium with love and discernment, to raise the raw material into something even more beautiful. Ours is a seventh century work, but of poor quality, probably due to the multiple restorations it has suffered over the centuries. Silver was used in a similar way. We see on the table, two large fish, loaves of bread, and the Like the empire it served, it was a direct continuation from its Imperial Roman predecessor, but played a far greater role in the defence and survival of the state than its earlier iteration. Thus the cross in our mosaic is golden and jewelled, to show that it is not only the instrument of the crucifixion but also the sign of conquest and transformation, the means by which Christ tramples down death by death. Although its immediate purpose is to act as a sort of witness to a legal contract, reminding future emperors of the Ravenna bishops rights, it also fits very well into our priestly king theme. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. But, as we shall see, these themes are nevertheless theologically implicit because the mosaic explicitly links the Transfiguration with the Holy Liturgy and the Lords Second Coming. (A) built The Byzantine navy was the naval force of the East Roman or Byzantine Empire. And we believe that this is where the Ostrogoth king Theodoric worshiped. And when we looked down the nave, we see fabulous mosaics. is just south of Ravenna. Our God-given power within the world is, I think, best understood in an artistic sense rather than exploitative. Finally, paradise came to be equated with Eden through the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. a long line of male martyrs parallel the female The twelve lambs beside him represent all the faithful, and the garden around him is a microcosm of the whole creation that he and all the faithful offer in the Eucharist, and upon which the Holy Spirit descends and transforms. One key to the deeper meaning of our mosaic is given in fact some days before the event of the Transfiguration itself. We are witnessing the material word shining with light, like Christs garment on Mount Tabor. . Something went wrong. Some of these themes were without doubt intended by the designer of the mosaic. It was not in fact not surprising that Christ shone with light, for He is the glory of the Father, light from light, true God from true God. Our bishop Apollinare is a spiritual gardener as well as a priest. He also wears also a simple crown to denote his regal status as king of Salem. These female saints on the north wall of the church stand opposite opposite a mosaic of male martyr- saints on the south wall whose clothing reveals different gammadia. Mosaic depiction of the Palace of Theodoric in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy, 561 CE. They're placed in between the arched windows. The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo is a basilica church in Ravenna, Italy. Mountains are where people meet God. One sees such palms in many other Italian mosaics, such as at SantApollinare Nuovo in Ravenna (6th c.), the ceiling mosaic of Arian Baptistery also in Ravenna (5th c.), at Santa Prassede in Rome (9th c.), and in the apse mosaic of Santa Cecilia also in Rome (9th c.). But he also dressed like a Roman senator, his toga bearing the senatorial shoulder to hem stripe. how the arts work together in the Sunlight enters each piece and re-emerges as emerald tinted. The mosaic was very colorful and had two Greek inscriptions that describe the ancient church fathers, who built the church for a martyr named "Theodoros." The mosaic was also covered in. Such sunrise type clouds are common in apsidal mosaics in Rome. In Christian symbolism bees represent the immortality of the soul and the resurrection (for a hive seems to come back from the dead after three months of winter hibernation). century and in part from the second half of the 6th century, allows us to follow the. Luke tells us that they were speaking about Christs departure about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. In turn: - Enclosure. This collection _______ the best short stories I have ever read. Creative Commons Attribution/Non-Commercial/Share-Alike. This is a sign of intercession and, most critically, the gesture used by the presiding bishop or priest at the epiclesis when, on behalf of all the faithful, he asks the Holy Spirit to come down upon us and these gifts here spread forth. The secret to this mosaic lies in the fact that it depicts not merely the past, but also the present and the future. And St Iranaeus, Because of his boundless love, Jesus became what we are that he might make us to be what he is (Against Heresies, V). at the east end of the church. About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. - [Beth] The precessional SantApollinare in Classe mosaic. In Genesis 17:1 we read that this was Abrahams age when God appeared to him and gave His covenant to make him the father of many nations. These and other anomalies immediately invite us on a journey to try and discover their meaning. There, according to the Genesis account, God placed us humans and give us the task to cultivate it. 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