Our Iconography

The Parish iconographer is Heather MacKean, who “wrote” most, but not all of the icons you see in our Church.  The walls of the Nave feature many of her icons that depict the Great Feasts of the Church. Her style of painting is bright, open, and compatible with the important icons that are part of the Iconostasis, or Icon Screen.

Below are a few examples (click to enlarge)

Iconostasis

The Iconostasis (Icon Screen) is the wooden panel at the front of the Church, which separates the Nave from the Altar area.  The iconostasis is a traditional feature of Orthodox churches, although the western church had a similar point of separation seen in many churches built in the middle ages.  Our Iconostasis was originally in the Chapel at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and several of the icons on the iconostasis (Christ with the Theotokos and St. John, which is over the Royal Doors), and those on and around the Royal Doors, were written by Maria Struve.  To these have been added the main icons of Christ, the Theotokos, Saints Nicholas and Andrew, beautifully written by Heather MacKean.

Golgotha

The Golgotha is the traditional icon before which we offer the memorial service (“Panikhida” or the shorter “Litya”) for the departed.  It depicts Christ on the cross, with the Theotokos and St. John standing on either side.  This icon was also written by Heather MacKean, and was dedicated in memory of our former pastor, Fr. John Sochka and former parishioners James Micros and Nellie Stevenson.

One thought on “Our Iconography”

  1. Why is the transfiguration represented in the “stretched” out six pointed star? Star of David? Midnight Star of Revelations?

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