Blessed Mother Painting Unveiled
at Gala Event (11/30/06)

The event began with a reception attended by nearly a hundred guests including local business and political figures, scholars of religious history and theology from University of Virginia, friends of the artist, and Synchronicity Monastic and Secular Community Members.

Following the reception, a series of three speakers addressed the gathering including Dr. Constant Mews, an eminent scholar and Professor of Medieval History and Theology at Monash University in Australia who is currently completing a semester as visiting professor at University of Virginia. Dr. Mews gave an inspired talk on the historical role apparitional manifestation as a means of bringing balance to a fragmented humanity (to read the full transcript of Dr. Mews' talk, please click here).

Alexander Anufriev, the Blessed Mother artist, then addressed the group, sharing his creative process through this miraculous endeavor, with his partner, Tanya Anisimova translating from Russian.

Master Charles was then invited to address the group and delivered a beautiful summation of his lifelong and intimate connection with the Blessed Mother and the nearly sixty years he waited to share Her with the world. His delight and fulfillment in finally being able to reveal his "secret" was palpable to all in the room.

At the conclusion of Master Charles' talk, the moment everyone had been eagerly awaiting arrived. the unveiling of the Blessed Mother painting. Master Charles was joined by Alexander Anufriev and together, they gently pulled the ribbon and the cloth veil covering the painting gracefully fell at their feet. At that moment, a clearly audible collective gasp was heard, and many wept openly as they first beheld the Blessed Mother.

There was a momentary stillness in which it seemed time was suspended, and then an ensemble of virtuoso musicians, led by Tanya Anisimova, a world-class cellist and partner of the artist, performed a stirring rendition of the Ave Maria which brought waves of delight to everyone gathered. Following were several more musical pieces performed with cello, flute, harp, and soprano vocalist.

As an added highlight, the publisher of a local area magazine, Echo, which conducted an in-depth interview with Master Charles just two weeks prior to this event, distributed copies of the latest issue, hot off the press, featuring a full page article on the Blessed Mother with the newly unveiled painting on the front cover. (Please click here to view the Echo article)

In all, the event was most empowering and flawlessly presented.