phase iv project

Phase IV status, photos & donations

Photos

Photos of iconography in the church

BECOMING WHAT WE BEHOLD

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Every Divine Service begins and ends with the veneration of the Holy icons
—Saint Paisios of Mount Athos 
    
Despite this extended time with pandemic limitations, efforts are continuing to complete Phase IV Iconography – North and South for our Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.  This is the final phase!  All parishioners, Church groups and friends are asked to help raise the remaining necessary funds.  Completing our iconography will allow us to proceed to the Divine Service of Consecration of our beloved Church.  To the glory of God, this completed and Holy Church of God will be the inheritance we leave to those who follow us. 

Icons are very important to our worship.  Mother Alexandra, a nun converted to Orthodoxy, reminds us that, We sometimes refer to icons as doorways to heaven. Often they are explaining things about God in ways that let us see and enter into the event...We venerate (we do not worship) those in whom we see Christ’s light shining through....There is always light, and the light is coming from Christ, even in icons of the Saints alone the light of Christ is showing through their life.

Iconography enhances the spiritual experience of individual believers and the Church Community.  Bishop Kallistos writes: Through lines and color the iconographer conveys the awesomeness of the invisible, divine reality.  Icons depict silence.  The icon invites the Christian to enter into contemplation, prayer and silence. 

We are blessed with the beautiful work of Mr. Petrou in writing our iconography. His icon writing is a contemporary yet traditional Byzantine style, depicting figures in a more realistic fashion. Mr. Petrou’s iconography has appeal to present and future parishioners of our Saint Nicholas Family and we are uplifted in our Orthodox worship. Visitors to our church find our icons both beautiful and moving.

Installing Iconography in an Orthodox Church happens only once in a lifetime.  We are blessed to have completed our beautiful Byzantine style Church structure and now we are furnishing our Church with Iconography.  Let us resume our regular Church attendance with a rededication to completing our Iconography Phase IV on the north and south walls.