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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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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The Recovery of the Arts

This is post 1 of 3 in the series “The Recovery of The Arts” Jonathan Pageau Examines the duality in the traditional vision of art, and how it is transformed by Christ, moving from the garments of skin to liturgical art and how this vision contrasts to contemporary notions art. The Recovery of the Arts…

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