St-John Chrysostom on Liturgical Art

As a liturgical artist, as someone who makes expensive objects to furnish the Church or to be worn by its clergy, there is a homily of St-John Chrysostom I like to keep in the back of my mind.  It is a homily on the Gospel of St-Mathew in which he warns us:   “Do you want…

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Opus Sectile Icons

There is a relatively famous image of St. Eudocia from the 10th or 11th century from Constantinople that has recently caught my attention.  It is done in a technique called Opus Sectile.  Unlike Mosaic which is the assembly of similarly shaped squares forming a pattern, Opus Sectile is when stone is cut in different shapes…

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Painting an Icon; the Hexaemeron Workshop

I am not an icon writer nor am I an icon painter, if it makes a difference. I am the founder and administrator of the non-profit organization Hexaemeron which sponsors courses in iconography. As such, I once attempted to make a St. Paul icon to familiarize myself with the process so that I could write…

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The Creation of a Christian Culture, Part 2

This is post 2 of 2 in the series “The Creation of a Christian Culture” Nicholas Kotar shows us how liturgical art and traditional forms can inspire the creation of para-liturgical and secular works of art. The Creation of a Christian Culture The Creation of a Christian Culture, Part 2 In part one of this…

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Services for the Departed – a forthcoming book from St. Tikhon’s Press

Services for the Departed is anticipated in print in early 2013! With this volume, we offer to the English-speaking Orthodox world music for the Panikhida and Burial services based entirely on melodies from authentic Russian chant originals, something that heretofore has not existed in English in any one volume. Furthermore, we have endeavored to present these…

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St. John the Baptist – Euless, Texas

On Saturday, June 14, St. John the Baptist (GOA) parish in Euless, Texas formally opened their beautiful new temple. Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver presided over the Thyranixia – the Opening of the Doors – after which the parish celebrated the first liturgy in their new Byzantine-style cruciform basilica. The building is among the best and most…

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The Icon: Sign of Unity or Division? (Pt. 5)

This is post 5 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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