Embroidery for the Modern Church
In 1995, a small unused room in the Icon Painting School at the Moscow Orthodox Theological Academy was converted into a studio for a single student interested in the lost art of church embroidery. This became the Pictorial Embroidery Department of the Icon Painting School housed in a larger facility within the famous Trinity-St. Sergius…
Continue reading »The Creation of a Christian Culture
This is post 1 of 2 in the series “The Creation of a Christian Culture” Nicholas Kotar shows us how liturgical art and traditional forms can inspire the creation of para-liturgical and secular works of art. The Creation of a Christian Culture The Creation of a Christian Culture, Part 2 “Christianity has a great calling,…
Continue reading »A Carver’s Commission
At the beginning of this story is my bishop, fittingly also the man who received me into the Orthodox Church when he was still a parish priest. He asked me if I could carve an “engolpion” – a large pendant worn by bishops, usually bearing an icon of The Virgin and Child. He asked…
Continue reading »Liturgical Arts and the Eye of the Heart
Beauty cannot compel, but it can call. Liturgical art and worship, when well executed, is a fragrance of paradise that beckons us to find its divine source. In this article I want to discuss one particular role of liturgical art: to help open the eye of our heart, or the nous as it is called…
Continue reading »Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies Summer School
The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies will be holding their 13th annual summer school course at Westminster College, Cambridge, United Kingdom, July 22-27. The course is called “The Icon: A Bridge Between East and West”. The schedule features several talks and events. The speakers are an exemplary group of scholars, including the renowned Orthodox theologian, Metropolitan…
Continue reading »The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division?(Pt. 3)
This is post 3 of 5 in the series “The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division?” Fr. Steven Bigham Explores the icon as a universal language of Christianity through scripture, councils and tradition. The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? (pt. 2) The Icon: Sign of Unity or…
Continue reading »An Icon of the Kingdom of God: The Integrated Expression of all the Liturgical Arts (pt. 2)
This is post 2 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 »The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? (pt. 2)
This is post 2 of 5 in the series “The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division?” Fr. Steven Bigham Explores the icon as a universal language of Christianity through scripture, councils and tradition. The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? (pt. 2) The Icon: Sign of Unity or…
Continue reading »The Holy Ascension Choros
The Holy Ascension choros, which was completed Pascha 2012, has been a project eight years in the making. In 2004, my wife and I were on our way to Charleston, SC for my first job out of architecture school – to design Holy Ascension Orthodox church. On our way, we stopped in New York…
Continue reading »The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division?
This is post 1 of 5 in the series “The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division?” Fr. Steven Bigham Explores the icon as a universal language of Christianity through scripture, councils and tradition. The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? (pt. 2) The Icon: Sign of Unity or…
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