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A masterpiece of iconography has recently been completed at St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church in Santa Rosa, CA (OCA). The dome is the work of Fr. Patrick Doolan, a renowned iconographer trained by Leonid Ouspensky. He and his assistant, Fr. Moses, painted the dome in true fresco over the course of the past year. This journal has posted two previous updates on the progress with fascinating photos of the work as it progressed (update 1; update 2).
We are now pleased to announce the completion of the work and to offer the following pictures.
Note also the six chandeliers that were installed around the dome as part of this project. They are modelled upon ancient Byzantine polycandelon lamps. It is known from documentation that early Byzantine churches were fitted with polycandela hanging around the perimeter of the dome in exactly this manner. Hagia Sophia in Constantinople originally had a great circle of 40 such lamps made of solid silver. The six new chandeliers at Santa Rosa were designed and made from blackened steel by New World Byzantine Studios. Like all the fixtures at this parish, they use candles instead of electricity.
Many of the photographs are by Patrick Wilkes.
Wonderful work! Heartiest congratulations to Fr. Patrick Doolan, his assistant, Fr. Moses, and to entire parish!
The icons are so beautiful. I love the picture with the sunlight streaming though the windows. I was in this church about 10 years ago, and Fr. Doolan gave us an iconography tour at that time of the “works in progress.” It is so wonderful to see these “older” icons again and the newer frescoes, which blend in perfectly, of course.