The Saint John of Damascus Society needs your help
The Saint John of Damascus Society has announced a new collaborative effort that we’re really excited about, and we need your support and participation! The background: Hal Sabbagh, the president of our executive board, was inspired by the apparent discovery last summer of the Higgs boson to develop with me and the rest of the…
Continue reading »The Serpents of Orthodoxy
One of the most surprising images one is faced with considering Orthodox liturgical symbolism is the bishop’s staff sporting two snakes flanking a small cross atop it. Especially in a Protestant North American context, this image seems to hark back to ancient chthonian cults, more a wizard’s magic staff than anything Christian. As I have…
Continue reading »Designing Icons (pt.9): Perspective Systems in Icons
This is post 9 of 9 in the series “Designing Icons” Aidan Hart gives us a full chapter on designing icons from his book “Techniques of Icon and Wall Painting.” Designing Icons (pt.1) Designing Icons (pt.2): Icon Prototypes Designing Icons (pt.3): New Icons Designing Icons (pt.4): Researching Festal Icons Designing Icons (pt.5): Conventions of Traditional…
Continue reading »An Icon of the Kingdom of God: The Integrated Expression of all the Liturgical Arts – Part 8: Vestments
This is post 8 of 12 in the series “An Icon of the Kingdom of God” Andrew Gould gives a unifying vision of how all the liturgical arts complement each other to create a living icon of the Kingdom of God. An Icon of the Kingdom of God: The Integrated Expression of all the Liturgical…
Continue reading »Russian Master Icon Carvers
Rashid and Inessa Azbuhanov are a Russian couple who are leading the rediscovery of icon carving in the Russian Church. Their works grace the collections of Russian politicians from Gorbachev to Putin, European royal families and church authorities from the Russian Patriarch to the Pope of Rome. Their works are often large and highly detailed, like wooden lace as…
Continue reading »Miniature Icons by Evgeny Baranov
Here are some of the most astounding miniature icons I have seen. They are made by a Russian artisan named Evgeny Baranov who is also a very good goldsmith as you will see below. These pictures were taken from his facebook page. I have been trying to get a short interview with some more details, and…
Continue reading »Icons from Shells
Here is a surprising video from a Georgian news website of an Archpriest who uses seashells to create decorative images but also icons. His images are quite “folk” in appearance and composition and the iconography is obviously rather simple as the shells prevent too much detail. This priest seems quite comfortable as he is shown…
Continue reading »Iconography in Euless, TX
Our readers may remember a post we published late last summer about a new temple which was built for St. John the Baptist in Euless, TX. Since that time, iconographer Vladimir Grygorenko has completed the frescoes in the Altar area; The Hierarchs, The Communion of the Apostles, The Panagia, and Pentecost. Please visit Mr. Grygorenko’s…
Continue reading »Degraded Iconicity III: Mysteriological Matter; As Above, So Below
This is post 3 of 6 in the series “Degraded Iconicity” Fr. Silouan Justiniano thinks through the effect of contemporary image culture and mechanical reproduction on iconography and our sense of the sacred. The Degraded Iconicity of the Icon: The Icon’s Materiality and Mechanical Reproduction Degraded Iconicity II: Uplifting Materiality and Symbol. Degraded Iconicity III:…
Continue reading »Church Design Competition in Russia
Editor’s Note: A competition in Russia was launched to design a church, the first dedicated to the New Martyrs of Russia. The result and the winning design, seen below, is quite glorious and truly stands out among the others. Here is a part of the article from the Pravoslavie.ru website. ИП Смирнов Дмитрий Михайлович. Победитель конкурса…
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