What makes art sacred? Can an object be inherently holy—or does sacredness lie in its use?

Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press’s new book, Rethinking Sacred Arts, brings together leading scholars and artists to explore these and other questions across visual art, architecture, music, poetry, and liturgy. This first installment in SVS Press’s new Sacred Arts series is ideal for practitioners and scholars alike. It offers a vital resource for anyone probing the spiritual dimensions of art within an academic or liturgical context.

“With all of the fascinating ideas it presents, this book is also a bridge between the worlds of art history and theology—fields that haven’t always wanted to be in conversation. It demonstrates that we have so much to learn from each other, that our interaction can raise new questions and yield fresh and unexpected insights,” said Peter Bouteneff, who directs the Seminary’s Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) and co-edited the book with Christina Maranci of Harvard University.

The new publication has been praised by scholars as engaging, enlightening, and deeply thought-provoking.

“This book is remarkable for examining sacred art from an impressive range of perspectives …” said Henry Maguire, Professor Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University. “The result is a volume which by turns engages, enlightens, and challenges the reader, and which will inspire many fruitful discussions of this complex and important field in the future.”

“The Institute of Sacred Arts at St. Vladimir’s has become a much-needed wellspring of wisdom when it comes to the interface between human creativity and the divine,” added Jeremy Begbie, Professor of Theology at Duke University. “This multidisciplinary book will expand that reputation. A rich and accessible collection that deserves attention from any with interests in the field.”

Rethinking Sacred Arts features 27 black-and-white plates and 14 color plates. The book is available in paperback (6×9, 300 pp.) at SVSPress.com.