Maxo Vanka Murals

"I painted so that Divinity in becoming human, would make humanity divine.” 

This was the philosophy of Croatian artist Maxo Vanka. 

In the years leading into World War II, Vanka began work on twenty-five murals in the St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, PA. By the time he completed the work in 1951, he had created a collection of images that examined faith in light of the horrors of war and the struggle for justice, especially for laborers and immigrants in the United States.

This Lent, with The Crucifixion on the horizon, we're taking a tour of these murals as a way to contemplate the spiritual themes of the season. As it turns out, "Divinity in becoming human, would make humanity divine" is more than an artistic statement - it's also pretty good theology if we're talking about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! After the tour, we'll meet up for lunch to talk over the experience.

Admission to the Vanka Murals is $15. Please RSVP to mike@oaklandcommonwealth.com by March 8 to reserve your ticket. The Commonwealth can cover the cost for you.