Byzantine Art From Right Down The Road

So in case you didn't know, there is a pretty Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile right near the Alabama School of Math and Science and I have to say.. there are some amazing pictures

http://fs1.snappville.com/groups/annunciation%20in%20mobile%20alabama/groupimagethumb.jpg

This one's from the church in Malbis, across Mobile Bay.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mosaic-tile-design.com/images/greek-church-malbis-alabama/malbis-church-altar-sm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mosaic-tile-design.com/malbis-plantation-alabama.html&usg=__sgcJJZPUSh5IvZjDc_WjHb51HP0=&h=401&w=300&sz=34&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=OMgvyGfnLaVcQM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGreek%2BOrthodox%2BChurch%2B%252B%2BMalbis%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG


To walk in these churches and see this art, to feel the presence of God as you survey the icons and paintings... it's a deeply moving spiritual thing. I went to GreekFest back last semester down in Mobile and experienced this when I walked into the sanctuary of the church itself. [After being an Orthodox for five minutes and lighting the candles outside of the sanctuary *grins*]
It's amazing that this type of art still inspires God-fearing folk such as ourselves to draw closer to the One who inspired the painters' hands.