Diocesan Life An Iconographic Journey by Paula Mindzak Fall 2018
Iconography has always played an important part in my life. As a child growing up I always marveled at all the beautiful icons in the church and how they welcomed you with open arms surrounding you with love. Through the years, growing up, one learns more and more about those depicted in the icons and their connection with Christ. Icons reveal how Christ can be reflected in our minds and souls, and throughout our lives. However, while we all might know some basics of iconography such as the egg tempera and items from nature that are used to write the icon, the depth and meaning of each step in the process of colors and layers can be astonishing. During Great Lent in 2017, our parish, SS. Peter and Paul in South River, provided space for a Diocesan Icon Workshop. We had twelve participants sign up for the workshop; eleven first-timers and one who had written icons before, with ages spanning from teenagers to adults. Our instructor, Lynette Hull, was very informative and helpful all throughout the workshop which didn’t seem like “work” at all. What a truly wonderful experience and opportunity this was for our first time class! However, “wonderful” only partially describes just how this class accomplishment would affect me and all the other participants.
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Each week after reciting the Icon-Writer’s prayers, we began our iconographic journey. As each class progressed it was like we were opening a new chapter in our life drawing us closer to Christ through our messenger, Archangel Michael, (whose name means: “like unto God”) and letting us reflect our love for God in the icon. Knowing that icons are written with all natural items was a recognized fact. But, not knowing what all the materials were and how they were prepared resulted in a monumental learning experience. All the colors, layers, pigments, highlights, and floats used reveal the inner beauty and glow that can be seen through the finished icon. We learned more about our life in Christ and grew in an understanding that brought us much closer to Him. The process from the initial gessoed icon board through all the layers of gold leaf, egg tempera mixes of water, wine, pigments of cinnabar, malachite, azurite, lapis, hematite and garosite that were used represented a ladder of ascent to the Kingdom of God for me.
Here are some responses from the first time icon writers: 1. These are the thoughts on how this class enriched my life. `The experience of taking the Lenten icon workshop has enriched my Orthodox faith more than I thought that it would. It did this by adding dimension to my prayer and meditation as I was visually drawn into the ritual tradition. I was not an “artist” during the creation of my icon. I was a pilgrim on a journey through a portal to the divine. I became cognizant that I would realize my abilities as well as my own limitations in the “beauty” and in the “flaws” of my icon. I appreciate icons in a whole different way, as well as the work of iconographers creating the icons I use to meditate and pray. I was amazed that the combination of ground gemstones, wine, and egg yolks would create a luminescent holy image. I learned a lot about myself by taking the Lenten Iconography workshop. I discovered that the icon reflected my own image, as I had no idea that I would recognize myself in it. I discovered that while I am not an artist, through this Workshop I was blessed with the ability to create an image that I will always cherish. 2. Icons have always been a part of my foundation of prayer, both in church and at home. Gazing at the images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints makes my prayer life more contemplative; they serve as a very real means of enabling me to connect with God and His love. To have been given the grace of the Holy Spirit to actually write an icon was a gift of faith that I will always treasure. 3. This class was special for many reasons: I appreciated learning about the paints and the technique needed for the icon. It was also interesting to see how we all tried to do the same thing, but in the end each icon was different and beautiful in its own way. At times the work was challenging, but finally very rewarding. 4. I took the class to learn about what was involved in the process of iconography. The whole icon process enlightened me and was amazing and comforting.
