The Transfiguration, the revelation of God in His glory strengthens His disciples for the difficult times they are about to face. For us it reminds us of the glories that await us if we strive to follow Christ. In our “Hero’s Journey,” our epic spiritual quest, meeting God on theContinue Reading
“Viktor Vasnetsov should be credited with the true beginnings of the revival of the iconographic form.” It has been 66 years since the groundbreaking book “The Meaning of Icons,” by Ouspensky and Lossky was first published. The book is largely responsible for the modern revival of the art of iconography.Continue Reading
“Saint Lazarus the Painter believed that we do not live for the here and now, we live for the future. We are not content with what is, but struggle to achieve what should be and what will be.” Saint Lazarus the Painter Saint Lazarus the Painter was born in ArmeniaContinue Reading
“To be sacred or holy, means to be set apart. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that we remove ourselves from the world.” The Desert Fathers were hermits that withdrew from the world to focus on the contemplation of God and deny themselves every worldly comfort. One day, one of theseContinue Reading
“The Truth behind the legend of Saint George and the Dragon is that Good will triumph over Evil.” The Man, Saint, and Martyr The early gothic art form of the 12th-14th centuries, from which I draw much of my inspiration, borrowed many elements from the iconographic form that preceded it.Continue Reading
“the crucifixion and the resurrection go together, they cannot be separated,” From the Rheinau Psalter, circa A.D. 1260 Just a few days earlier it appeared that all was lost. Jesus, whom the twelve had followed for the last three years, is arrested, condemned, and put to death in the mostContinue Reading
From the Rheinau Psalter, circa A.D. 1260 In his book “The Spirit of the Liturgy,” Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, touches upon the difference between the Iconographic art form and the Gothicart form. “The depiction(in the Gothic) is no longer of the Pantocrator, the Lord of all, leading us intoContinue Reading
“God’s Word is written on our hearts and we express that Truth in countless ways.” The Invisible Iconographer In traditional Orthodox iconography the goal of the iconographer is to be invisible. Individual expression or style is not sought after because it is considered a distraction to prayer and devotion. ThisContinue Reading
“Saint Lazarus the Painter believed that we do not live for the here and now, we live for the future. We are not content with what is, but struggle to achieve what should be and what will be.” Saint Lazarus the Painter Saint Lazarus the Painter was highly regarded andContinue Reading
In traditional Orthodox iconography the goal of the iconographer is to be invisible. Individual expression or style is not sought after because it is considered a distraction to prayer and devotion. This is why icons from so many different periods by so many different artists all look similar, it isContinue Reading