Orthodox Arts Journal

Portraits of Light and Shadow in Balkan Churches – Part 2: Peć, Gračanica, and Dečani

By Andrew Gould

Continuing my photojournalism series highlighting Balkan churches, this post will feature wide-angle interior portraits of the three great monastery churches of the Kosovo and Metohija region. Peć, Gračanica, and Dečani are monuments of unequalled importance, astonishing for their architecture and frescoes, and for their incredible state of preservation in this most embattled region. Because few…

Churches of North Macedonia – Saint George in Staro Nagoričane

OAJ Tour of Georgia Led by Andrew Gould

Iconostases in Balkan Churches – Part 2: Dečani Monastery

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Iconography as Alternative Social-Religious Vision: Fr Zinon (Teodor)

By John P. Burgess

(Editor’s Note. This essay builds upon our earlier article about Fr. Zinon by Aidan Hart. This article explores Fr. Zinon’s often original and controversial beliefs about the Church, and how his independent thinking inspired his art. By posting this article, the OAJ does not mean to imply endorsement of Fr. Zinon’s ideas, but rather to…

Teaching Iconography in the Twenty-First Century

What is an Icon – A Response for Philip Davydov

Questions for Iconographers

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Znamenny Chant for the 21st Century

By Vladimir Morosan

The subject of this article — the “Znamenny Chantlet Database Project” — is a continuation of a proposal[1] initially unveiled by the author at the 2014 Pan-Orthodox Symposium on Orthodox Composition, held at Northern Kentucky University, and in a paper[2] given in 2015 at the Conference of the International Society of Orthodox Church Musicians…

An Interview with Benedict Sheehan – Vespers, and its Concert Premiere

With Faith and Love; Thoughts on a Russian-American Choral Masterclass

An All-Night Vigil for St. Richard of Wessex: An Old Saint is Venerated Anew

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Teaching Traditional Ecclesial Pictorial Embroidery

By Olga Fishchuk

I would like to introduce you to my new project, Katrusya Studio, which was established to teach people Medieval ecclesial pictorial embroidery. What is pictorial embroidery? The term “pictorial embroidery” refers to any embroidery depicting faces and figures of people. Ecclesial pictorial embroidery encompasses figures of saints, scenes from their lives, and famous historical events.…

Lecture: Exploring Church as the Center of Our Life

Iconostases in Balkan Churches – Part 2: Dečani Monastery

Iconostases in Balkan Churches – Part 1: Serbia

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American Aristocrats: Art, Patronage, and Beauty with Andrew Gould and Dr. Timothy Patitsas

By Andrew Gould

This video features a discussion I had with Dr. Timothy Patitsas. We discuss liturgical arts, patronage, culture, and the experience of the artist. We delve deep into the practical difficulties of realizing good art in the modern age. If you enjoyed this article, please use the PayPal button below to donate to support the work…

Teaching Iconography in the Twenty-First Century

What is an Icon – A Response for Philip Davydov

Questions for Iconographers

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American Aristocrats: Art, Patronage, and Beauty with Andrew Gould and Dr. Timothy Patitsas

This video features a discussion I had with Dr. Timothy Patitsas. We discuss liturgical arts, patronage, culture, and the experience of the artist. We delve deep into the…

The Memory Keepers

Svaneti churchkey keeper Yaroslav with his grand son.

This text is not just an article – it’s also a call for a combined effort. We invite you to support our documentary film the on Svaneti frescoes…

Churches of North Macedonia – Monastery of Saint Naum

Continuing my photojournalism series highlighting Balkan churches, this post features an especially beloved monastery in North Macedonia – The Monastery of Saint Naum. Saint Naum was a…

Teaching Iconography in the Twenty-First Century

Study Group final image, - result of 6.5 months of work and studies.

Sharing our teaching method, I invite fellow iconographers to share their views on teaching, as only by approaching this subject from several sides can we foster a new…

What is an Icon – A Response for Philip Davydov

Editor’s Note: This open letter was written in response to Philip Davydov’s call for master iconographers to address some fundamental questions about their art and its relationship to…

Questions for Iconographers

An Angel from Svaneti (georgia) and a warrior from Vatopaedi monastery (Mount Athos)

Writing this text, I can’t help but feel that it opens up (or continues) a very extensive subject, which will require a lot of effort just to be…

Churches of North Macedonia – Saint George in Staro Nagoričane

Resuming my photojournalism series highlighting Balkan churches, this post features an especially interesting and beautiful church in North Macedonia – The Church of Saint George in the village…

Iconography as Alternative Social-Religious Vision: Fr Zinon (Teodor)

(Editor’s Note. This essay builds upon our earlier article about Fr. Zinon by Aidan Hart. This article explores Fr. Zinon’s often original and controversial beliefs about the Church,…

OAJ Tour of Georgia Led by Andrew Gould

After a fantastic tour of the Balkans last June, the Orthodox Arts Journal is sponsoring a second art and architecture package tour. This tour will last 2 weeks,…

Iconography: Towards Future Seminary Curriculum Development

Editorial Note: The following paper was presented at the academic theological conference, The Orthodox Christian Seminary in the 21st Century, held Saturday, September 16, during the 75th Anniversary…

The Memory Keepers

This text is not just an article – it’s also a call for a combined effort. We invite you to support our documentary film the on Svaneti frescoes and the dedicated people who maintain them. Help us to preserve Svaneti’s invaluable treasures of Orthodox Christianity for centuries to come. Georgian church art reflects exceptional artistry…

Sacred Arts East and West: A Conversation with Aidan Hart, Jonathan Pageau, and Andrew Gould

The Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) will host a panel discussion with artists and scholars Aidan Hart, Jonathan Pageau, and Andrew Gould, on Monday, April 24, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. The event will be moderated by ISA founding director and SVOTS Professor of Systematic Theology Dr Peter Bouteneff and Associate Professor of…

Interview with Iconographer Baker Galloway

Editor’s Note: Following upon Aidan Hart’s recent post about applications currently being accepted for the 3-year Icon Painting Programme taught by him, we present an interview with a 2019 graduate of that program, Baker Galloway, conducted by Seraphim O’Keefe on behalf of the OAJ. Introduction Baker Galloway is an American graduate of the 3-year Icon Painting Course offered by the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts (London, UK). The course is taught in Shrewsbury, UK by Aidan Hart, who has contributed prolifically to the field of iconography (writing, teaching, painting, carving, mosaics, liturgical furnishings) over the past 30+ years in the UK and internationally. Baker participated in the 2016-2019 course with ten fellow students, graduating in October 2019. Baker is a dear friend, and I am excited about the work he is doing. For years, he and I have shared our experiences and ideas about art and life. In March of 2019, he invited me along on one of his trips to England, to meet Aidan and to see the iconography class in action. My encounter left a profound impression on me, and now it is a privilege for me to introduce Baker to you, and…

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Richard Barrett
Fr. Steven Bigham
Andrew Gould
John A. Graham

Aidan Hart
Lynette Hull
Fr. Silouan Justiniano

Markos Kampanis
Nicholas Kotar
Mary Lowell

Fr. Ivan Moody
Vladimir Morosan
Fr. Patrick O’Rourke

Jonathan Pageau
Katherine Sanders
Benedict Sheehan
Federico José Xamist

The purpose of this project is to make available online a collection of graphic illustrations of the highest quality. The collection will focus on iconographic drawings and related graphic ornaments stylistically suited to the illumination of printed Orthodox publications. The project will address the needs of Orthodox book designers, graphic artists, and many others, who desire excellent imagery for their publications.

Learn more and gain access to the images »