Windows to the Divine: Orthodox Icons – an Interview with Seraphim O’Keefe

By Andrew Gould | June 19, 2025 |

In this captivating interview, iconographer Seraphim O’Keefe shares his remarkable journey from an unchurched teenager in Virginia to a novice monk in the Republic of Georgia and eventually a full-time iconographer in the Orthodox Church. He recounts his spiritual awakening through encounters with sacred art and ancient monastic traditions, surviving a 70-foot fall off a…

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Humility

By Philip Davydov | March 3, 2025 |
Icon by Juliania Sokolova VS an icon painted by a student of a school she founded at Moscow Spiritual Academy

If only we could speak to ourselves from the future! How many valuable insights and skills could we have shared with our past selves! On the other hand, how would we have learned these things if not through the mistakes we make today? Is there a way to learn without mistakes? We have books, videos,…

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The Memory Keepers

By Philip Davydov | September 4, 2024 |
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 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…

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What is an Icon – A Response for Philip Davydov

By Vladimir Grygorenko | March 19, 2024 |

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 the Church.  Dear Philip, thank you for the interesting article. It seems to me that the questions you have presented to us are not that difficult to…

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Questions for Iconographers

By Philip Davydov | March 13, 2024 |
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 introduced, and even more effort to be explained, but I will try… On February 12th, 2024 I was invited to the Andrey Rublev Museum in Moscow as…

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Iconography: Towards Future Seminary Curriculum Development

By Fr. Silouan Justiniano | December 19, 2023 |

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 of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, which took place at Jordanville, NY, September 15-17, 2023.[i] ****   Trinity!! Higher than any being, any divinity, any goodness! Guide of…

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Lecture: Exploring Church as the Center of Our Life

By Andrew Gould | October 12, 2023

This talk was offered as part of the Fall Retreat at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church in Rolla, Missouri. It explores the theme of community life being expressed through liturgical art – a sort of do-it-yourself guide to building an artistic culture of worship and hospitality in church, village, and home: Annunciation Fall Retreat – October…

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The Chichester Workshop for Liturgical Art: A New Venture for Training Liturgical Artists and Inspiring Wise Commissioning

By Aidan Hart | September 18, 2023 |

An exciting centre for training liturgical artists and inspiring commissioners was officially launched on the September 14th, 2023. It is called the Chichester Cathedral Workshop for Liturgical Art. It is based at the ancient cathedral in the south of England,which stems from a monastery founded by St Wilfrid in 681. You can learn more about…

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