Iconography to Adorn Sanctuary at South Carolina Church – A Meeting of Bishop Maxim and George Kordis
The Greek community in Columbia, South Carolina, was blessed with building a new sanctuary in downtown Columbia, which was completed in March of this year. The next phase has now begun to take place with adorning of the Church’s interior with Byzantine frescos. This magnificent work is being accomplished by a renowned iconographer from Athens, George Kordis. Although his work graces numerous monasteries and churches in Greece and Lebanon, Holy Trinity is his first iconography project in the United States.
In the afternoon hours on July 27, 2011, His Grace Bishop Maxim arrived in Columbia, South Carolina. He was warmly welcomed by the Board president Peter Currence, of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The church’s dean, Father Michael Platanis, was absent but hospitably took care of the details concerning the guest’s comfort and accommodation. Bishop Maxim accompanied his host immediately into the church’s sanctuary to meet George Kordis and his capable, highly professional and skilled team. Kordis and his associates rough-out the images in charcoal then apply water-glass paint, first created in the 18th century specifically for murals. Kordis will use only four basic colors in this project: white, black, red and ocher –ergo, only the earthly pigments.
Please, take a look: http://gallery.me.com/maxim.bishop#100712
In the friendly discussion which followed, they talked about fresco paintings and the works of other iconographers. They also exchanged their own personal experiences with painting techniques and applications on various types of walls, and other practical tips. Bishop Maxim himself was engaged in painting of St. Sava Church, in San Gabriel, adorning its walls prior to the parish’s centennial celebration last year.
“Byzantine iconography, as opposed to western iconic (virtual) reality, invented the real iconicity; created a painting world which is not false and illusionistic but it is real, since it participates in our real world and lives in our dimensions,” says Kordis.
Born in Greece in 1956, George Kordis studied theology at the University of Athens. He pursued his studies at the postgraduate level at Holy Cross Theological School in Boston, where he specialized in both theology and the aesthetics of Byzantine painting, gaining an MA in theology. In 1991 he was awarded a Doctorate in Theology at the University of Athens, and in 2003 he was appointed to the post of Lecturer at the same university.
George explains. “Painting is not only action private and personal. It is an action that concerns both society and the whole world. And more than this, painting –as it was comprehended by our Byzantine ancestors –is an attempt to be a vehicle for the promotion and progress of society between persons and objects. When the Byzantine painter works he tries to unify the world. He makes a picture that would show what is desirable and what the aims of society are; that is not other than unity and love. In order for this to be achieved, he uses line and colour with proportional reason. He freely composes forms and faces, not interested at all in their resemblance to natural forms. Thus, even if he bases his work on natural forms, he clearly produces artistic forms that express, not only himself, but reveal a vision and an ideal. They show the world as it is supposed to be, that is in a state of love.”
In addition to his work lecturing and writing on Byzantine iconography at the academic level, George Kordis also teaches the art of icon painting.
“In the framework of this philosophy of painting, I seek to create. I use the Byzantine system but simultaneously I use elements from a lot of modern artistic movements. Thus, I have shaped a personal painting language which is traditional and modern at the same time, believing that it can express the contemporary man with his needs and concerns.”
Kordis is a visiting professor on the summer program of Yale University (at the Institute of Sacred Music), at which his last course was entitled Glory on Earth—The Art of Icon Painting, on the School of Fine Arts (Cluj Napoca) Rumania, School of Theology of Bucarest Rumania, Pedagogical University of Odessa Ukrania, etc.
“What interests me,” Kordis states “is to show the metamorphosis of our everyday life through art. Thus I select my subjects from daily life and the relationships between man and his environment. Many times, indeed, Greek writers (Papadiamantis, Kontoglou, Karkavitsas, Elytis) are the source of my inspiration. I handle my subject in the Byzantine painting mode and try to recreate the ostensible natural reality with different reason. Thus, in my painting are expressed isolation, separation and the autonomy, which characterize modern life. Everything in my work is linked together with love. What connects things is their rhythm and their movement. They acquire common rhythm and are unified, abandoning their inactivity. And this concerns not only the drawing but also the colour of the picture, which is built by light. In this way the form is not retained on the painting surface but it is advanced towards the spectator and creates a relation with him.
“This is the final aim of my painting. The figurative form ceases to be autonomous and is moved to the beholder, creating an aesthetic bond with him. It exists through him. Finally, the figurative form emerges into the present time of the spectator and lives through his own dimensions. I was taught this important truth by the Byzantine craftsmen, who, for other reasons, sought the same thing in their work.”
His Grace described to Kordis the Diocesan Iconography Course in Alhambra that is actively providing sessions in iconography, which has often been lead by renowned iconographers. At Bishop Maxim’s invitation, George Kordis will be conducting the forthcoming 2 week course at the same Diocesan Iconography School in February of 2012. In Kordis’ own words we get a sense of his personal approach to art: “Painting is not only action private and personal. It is an action that concerns both society and the whole world. And more than this, painting, as it was comprehended by our Byzantine ancestors, an attempt to be a vehicle for the promotion and progress of society between persons and objects.”
In the course of just a little over a day, Bishop Maxim was impressed with his visit to Columbia by such a joyful and enthusiastic community and their tremendous efforts and achievements in all areas of the Parish life.
We wish all our brothers and sisters at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Columbia, South Carolina, many more years, Eis polla eti!