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 cliff while building a monastery, and the transformative challenges of monastic life that led him to embrace iconography as his life’s calling.

Seraphim delves into the theology, technique, and symbolism behind Orthodox iconography, discussing the artistic philosophy behind mural work at St. John of the Ladder, the impact of liturgical space on visual design, and how his art draws on Romanesque, Art Nouveau, and ancient Orthodox traditions. A must-watch for anyone interested in sacred art, Orthodox Christianity, and the profound role of beauty in spiritual life.