Helena L. Martin
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helenalmartin.bsky.social
Helena L. Martin
@helenalmartin.bsky.social
410 followers 220 following 700 posts
priest + PhD student studying disability, demons, monsters, and magic in the NT and early Christianity (she/her)

“Then God gives a command, and the ice melts ...” (Psalm 147:18)
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helenalmartin.bsky.social
Please enjoy this ceiling tile from the 3rd century CE synagogue found at Dura-Europos.

Apparently this is just what Capricorn looks like. But since I didn’t know that, I’m choosing to continue calling this a mer-antelope in my head.
A square clay ceiling tile depicting Capricorn, half goat(?) and half sea serpent. More details: https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/5726
September 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
On Thursday, I get to play with this (not currently displayed) Roman gemstone ring at the art gallery, then immediately head an Eli Clare reading/lecture on his new book, Unfurl: Survivals, Sorrows, and Dreaming.

I feel like this diptych nearly perfectly encapsulates my current research interests.
A round, quartz gemstone with an ant intaglio from 1st-2nd century Rome, set in a modern gold ring setting. https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/217767
September 16, 2025 at 8:30 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
This scruffy dog(?) caught my eye this afternoon. She’s in the 3rd-century CE Mithraeum at the Yale Dura-Europos exhibit, and I love her.
Ancient painting on plaster depicting animals running toward the right of the frame. Lions, gazelles maybe, and in the foreground a scruffy dog-like friend. (This is imprecise because I know nothing about ancient depictions of animals other than as a fan.)
September 5, 2025 at 2:00 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Happy Labor Day. What a timely reminder of the long lasting impact of collective action.
September 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Newly obsessed with this 15th-century terracotta panel from Florence.

His tiny hand on her breast (and her hand on his tiny foot) make this one of the most-true-feeling depictions of “Virgin and Child” I’ve seen in person.
Photo of a terracotta sculpture by Michele di Niccolò at the Yale University Art Gallery, depicting the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus with a conch shell over their heads and fabric draped behind them. Traces of colorful pigment are visible throughout https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/52538
August 29, 2025 at 4:07 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Could also be a reinterpretation of John 20:17. “Don’t cling to me.”
Painting of resurrected Jesus in white, standing on the right, pulling away from Mary Magdalene, in red on the left. She’s reaching out to touch him as he turns away.
July 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Looks like Columbia is union busting during negotiations with its graduate workers. See (and sign!) the Student Workers of Columbia’s open letter here: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

If you saw the adjunct teaching positions posted by Columbia next week: please do not apply to them.

#AcademicSky
Screenshot of a job posting for “Lecturer in Discipline” at Columbia University. Text below it says “Fellow workers in higher ed: Will you pledge not to help Columbia union bust?”
July 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 2:38 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Remember how we apologized for the WWII internment of U.S. citizens and residents due to their Japanese ancestry?

Because we had ripped them from their homes without due process, imprisoning them for years and razing their lives to the ground?

Remember how we said we didn't want to do that again?
PUBLIC LAW 100-383—AUG. 10,1988 102 STAT. 903 Public Law 100-383 100th Congress An Act To implement recommendations of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are to— (1) acknowledge the fundamental injustice of the evacuation, relocation, and internment of United States citizens and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry during World War II; (2) apologize on behalf of the people of the United States for the evacuation, relocation, and internment of such citizens and permanent resident aliens; (3) provide for a public education fund to finance efforts to inform the public about the internment of such individuals so as to prevent the recurrence of any similar event; (4) make restitution to those individuals of Japanese ancestry who were interned; (5) make restitution to Aleut residents of the Pribilof Islands and the Aleutian Isleuids west of Unimak Island, in settlement of United States obligations in equity and at law, for— (A) injustices suffered and unreasonable hardships endured while those Aleut residents were under United States control during World War II; (B) personal property taken or destroyed by United States forces during World War II; (C) community property, including community church property, taken or destroyed by United States forces during World War H; and (D) traditional vlQage lands on Attu Island not rehabilitated after World War II for Aleut occupation or other productive use; (6) discourage the occurrence of similar injustices and violations of civil liberties in the future; and (7) make more credible and sincere any declaration of concern by the United States over violations of human rights committed by other nations.
July 6, 2025 at 12:56 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Carmy’s puff levels in The Bear are very important to me.
6 screenshots of John Green from vlogbrothers with his hair standing on and with the caption “PUFF LEVELS ARE HIGH”
June 30, 2025 at 2:25 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
I didn’t realize just how different it would be each year. It’s really fun to watch. I’ve even had new native species volunteer out of nowhere.

This year about 1/3 of my butterfly weed spontaneously got these red streaks. I didn’t even know it could do that. It’s beautiful!
Closeup photo of orange and red butterflyweed
June 30, 2025 at 1:47 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
How is native pollinator garden summer #4 going, you ask?

Absolutely incredible.

If you can, I highly recommend replacing your lawn with native flowers! No watering or mowing or pesticides. Just fascinating biodiversity every time I walk out my door.
Orange butterflyweed and white swamp milkweed in bloom I forget what this pink flower in the foreground is called, but it’s a vine, and it’s going OFF this summer. In the back is some more butterflyweed
June 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Enjoyed taking a walk around New Haven with 3,000+ friends this afternoon. ⚓️

So many people asked take a photo of my sign, many because they wanted to look up the verse. I think I got more people to look at a Bible today than I have in my whole ordained ministry so far. 🙃
Two woman priests flank a person dressed in an inflatable unicorn costume. The one on the left has an orange stole and a sign that says “God speaks, the ICE MELTS.” The one on the right wears an orange and red stole and carries a sign that says “we will not stand down” with cartoon raised fists under it. A cardboard sign, black letters with white accents, says “GOD speaks, the ICE MELTS. Psalm 147.18” A cardboard sign, black letters with white accents, says “WELCOME the STRANGER” with many Bible citations around it
June 15, 2025 at 3:01 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
I forgot to take a real #TouchPews photo at church this morning, but I did take one of this donkey. It’s my 2yo’s third-favorite aspect of church (the first being the priest whom she loves and the second being the bread 😆).

Happy Pentecost! 🕯️🕊️🔥
Photo of a nearly life sized stuffed donkey (a fake one, not an actual dead animal). It’s wearing a blanket and a nametag that says “Cadfile The Donkey, St. Peter’s Church.”
June 8, 2025 at 4:57 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Here’s a very goofy looking baby bird chilling on our front steps today, waiting for her mom to come back with dinner. I love them! I’ve tried some of those remedies, and they don’t seem to last more than a day. 😩 Our entire front yard is the garden, so it’s impractical to renew that stuff daily.
A baby robin sits on stone steps with red brick behind it.
June 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
When your French practice test has been reading the news, too.
Screenshot of part of an exam. The question in French says: 10) J’ai envie de pleurer. The English translation says: I feel like crying.
June 5, 2025 at 1:25 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Tomorrow at #NAPS2025, @remedhe.bsky.social is hosting an online session at 1:30 central. Join us! I'll be talking about Evagrius and his disabled, very cold demons.

One more preview image. The thumbnail is weird; make sure to click and check out this demon in all its glory. (And see alt the text.)
"The Demon Flying" by Mikhail Vrubel, currently in the Russia State Museum. This is a symbolist painting, much wider than it is tall. In the foreground is a masculine humanoid figure with pale skin facing (flying?) right. His feet trail behind him like how Superman flies. He is mostly unclothed except for a black cloak belted with what looks like a thick belt of thorns. His eyes are wide open, his black hair flowing. The right third of the painting, in the upper half, is dark—maybe a black cloud? And near the subject's face is a smaller dark blue and black cloud? The background looks like a snowy mountain range to me. All the colors are beiges, whites, grays, and blacks, except for the blue cloud thing(?) near his head. I don't really know what's going on here, but I absolutely love it.
May 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Counting down to my #NAPS2025 presentation about demons this Saturday. Today we have an etching, "La bienheureuse Vierge Marie triumphant des démons," by Jacques Callot ca. 1632.

Please enjoy the Virgin Mary's elegant contrapposto and soft smile as she casually demolishes these demons.
A panel of an etching shows a young woman with a crown on her head, wearing a veil and a long chiton with a cape over it. The halo behind her head is so large and radiant that it looks like the sun. She extends her left hand, which accents her contrapposto stance. A gentle smile crosses her face, as she looks straight at the viewer. Under her feet are at least two vanquished demons, and the rest of the frame is circled by shadowy demon figures fleeing. I can't tell what she's holding in her extended left hand. Something wiggly that looks like the clouds around her— maybe the wind? At the bottom, in both Latin and French, is Psalm 91:13: "You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot." (NRSV)
May 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Hi! I'm back from a social media hiatus and counting down to my #NAPS2025 presentation (on Zoom) this Saturday: "Evagrius' Disabled Demons are 'Very Cold, Indeed.'"

I'll be including some fun artwork of demons. Here's "The Tribulations of Saint Anthony," an engraving by Martin Schongauer ca. 1475.
An engraving of a completely impassive older white man—balding, long beard, monastic robe—being attacked by more than half a dozen demons. They all seem to be floating midair (the man included), and the demons are tugging at his hair, limbs, clothing. The demons have wings or don't, have spikes or don't, have pointy horns or don't, have mermaid tails or don't. Each one is unique. Many of them carry clubs or other weapons, and they seem to be trying to tear him in every direction. Again, I can't emphasize enough how bored the monk looks by this process.
May 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Me trying to read 4Q216 for my #DeadSeaScrolls class.
Two frames of a joke from the Office. In the top frame: Two pieces of paper, the left with two Herodian “bet” letters, the right with two Herodian “ayin” letters. They look very similar. The caption says “corporate needs you to find the differences between this picture and this picture.” In the bottom frame: Pam from the Office says “They’re the same picture.”
March 3, 2025 at 2:57 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Michael Bruce Curry was consecrated June 17, 2000. Later installed as Presiding Bishop in 2015, he became the first African American to lead The Episcopal Church. He’s known for his dynamic preaching and fierce dedication to social justice and evangelism.

#EpiscopalBlackHistory
#BlackHistoryMonth 🕯️
A bishop stands in a church building and smiles vibrantly into the camera. He wears a purple shirt with a clerical collar under his black blazer. He has short hair and a goatee, round glasses, a large gold episcopal ring, and a glimpse of the chain of a pectoral cross is visible under his blazer. He looks approachable and fun.
March 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Henry Beard Delany was consecrated on November 21, 1918. He served as Suffragan Bishop for Colored Work in North Carolina. He fought to keep African Americans united with The Episcopal Church even as it had to establish separate churches under Jim Crow.

#EpiscopalBlackHistory
#BlackHistoryMonth 🕯️
A faded black-and-white photo of a man standing in an office with soft light pouring in from the curtained window next to him. Behind him is a bookcase full of thick tomes, and flowering plants frame him on either side. He wears bishop’s choir dress, with puffy white sleeves. He is balding, with a mustache and glasses, and he wears a soft, thoughtful smile as he gazes off-camera.
March 1, 2025 at 5:50 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Franklin Delton Turner was consecrated on October 7, 1988. He was Suffragan Bishop of Pennsylvania, the first Black bishop of that diocese. He also conceived of the supplemental hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Collection of Afro-American Spirituals.

#EpiscopalBlackHistory
#BlackHistoryMonth 🕯️
A faded black-and-white photo of three bishops. They look to be in a large church. On the left, a bishop smiles gently as he receives a crozier (bishop’s staff). He’s wearing white robes and a miter (bishop’s hat). On the right, another bishop is speaking as he hands the first one the crozier. The bishop in the center looks on from the background.
February 28, 2025 at 2:39 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Shannon MacVean-Brown was consecrated on September 28, 2019. As Bishop of Vermont, she’s the first Black woman to lead a diocese in New England. She’s an artist at heart and has been vocal about immigration, mass incarceration, and healthcare access.

#EpiscopalBlackHistory
#BlackHistoryMonth 🕯️
A bishop stands in an airy chapel with barren trees visible outside the clear windows. She’s wearing a white miter (bishop’s hat) that matches her white, silver, and blue chasuble. She has a Bible in one hand and a crozier (bishop’s staff) in the other. She smiles directly into the camera, with her long hair reaching almost to her elbows and hanging freely. There is a motif of leafless trees on her chasuble and miter that matches the trees outside.
February 26, 2025 at 2:35 AM
helenalmartin.bsky.social
Walter Decoster Dennis Jr. was consecrated on October 6, 1979. He served as Bishop Suffragan of New York and co-founded the Union of Black Episcopalians. He advocated for reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and anti-racism throughout his career.

#EpiscopalBlackHistory
#BlackHistoryMonth 🕯️
A black-and-white photo of a man sitting with his arm slung jauntily over the back of the couch next to him. He wears a clerical shirt and collar, a blazer, and a gentle smile directed off-camera. His round glasses and epic sideburns reflect the ‘60s era in which the photo was taken. A small line of text at the bottom says “Courtesy of the Diocese of New York.”
February 25, 2025 at 2:40 AM