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Iconographic Work

Holy Protection Monastery

White Haven Pennsylvania

The Holy Protection monastery is one of the original monasteries founded by Elder Ephraim of Arizona. In this monastery we felt that we were given an opportunity to try to prove our best selves in painting, but also in terms of choice of subjects and mentality of hagiography, since a dream of ours for a long time for traditional hagiography, according to ancient standards, found for the first time place and time of application very convenient.

Our choices for the space were such that they corresponded to what we considered high standards, standards of high aesthetics according to the ancient hagiography and our effort was to render them as high quality as possible in this way.

This mood and effort was especially strengthened by the Abbess of the monastery, the elder Olympiada, but also by the whole fraternity, who had great love and devotion to the traditional way and also due to the fact that at that time the fraternity church had a relatively concise size.

It was an opportunity to operate according to the ancient scales, for example in relatively small sizes, with a mood of complete sanctification and dense in fact, we managed in our opinion to resemble the feeling that traditional monasteries have in Greece and worldwide, which they radiate spirituality and are good places of prayer and contemplation. We tried to complete an aesthetic set and with the help of the old woman, who always strengthens our mood to follow the traditional standards, we managed to have a complete range of themes. Also, in some places, such as on the west front of the central aisle, we were able to give relatively rare depictions, such as that of the Second Coming. The narthex was also given the opportunity to form on the roof issues related to the life of Panagia.
Thus, an ensemble is completed that has to do both with the traditional canonization in a monastic church and with opportunities for originality, which concern recent Saints such as Saint Paisios, Saint Porphyrios and others.

We consider our work in this monastery to be one of the best we have done so far.

"The result of the iconographic work of the Christodoulou brothers, is really impressive and we invite the whole Greek community to visit our church to admire the icons"

Judge Marina Corodemus

“We’re not doing this just because we want the church to look nice or colorful, ιt’s about what we believe. Iconography is so crucial to the daily life of the Orthodox Christian.”

Fr. Konstantinos Eleftherakis
Iconography Christodoulou

The working steps

We follow specific steps for the design, creation, construction and placement of the project

STEP 1 DECEMBER 2009
STEP 1 DECEMBER 2009
Iconography Christodoulou

Before

We discuss the customer’s ideas and perceptions regarding the aesthetics of the space. We take accurate measurements and we predict possible future changes or uses.
STEP 2 JUNE 2010
STEP 2 JUNE 2010
Iconography Christodoulou

Precision plan

We constantly receive information about the iconographic set. We suggest-accept additions or changes, so that we can gradually reach a final choice of topics for the whole hagiological program.
STEP 3 SEPTEMBER 2012/2018
STEP 3 SEPTEMBER 2012/2018
Iconography Christodoulou

Painting

One of the most beautiful stages of our work comes to life. The essential aspect of our work is carefully organized and developed, according to the traditional order, from top to bottom and from the east to the west.
STEP 4 MARCH 2019
STEP 4 MARCH 2019
Iconography Christodoulou

Placement

In this last impressive step, everyone’s effort is completed. With extraordinary speed, the walls come to life and are filled with the figures of the Saints and the Holy Scenes. An interesting, collaborative process reaches its happy ending, sealing forever the interior of the temple.

Mon ‒ Fri: 08:30am ‒ 16:30pm
Sat: 09:30am ‒ 14:30pm

129str. Thessalonikis, 570 13 Oraiokastro Thessalonikis
+30 2310 269 935
info@holyicon.gr