The Holy & Sacred Iconography of St. George Greek Orthodox Church OCEAN, NJ Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2)
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Iconography in our Church In the early Christian Church, icons helped the illiterate Christian faithful to understand and to come to know Christ and His teachings. It was almost 400 years before the Church gave us the Canon of the Bible The New Testament as we know it today. Also, unlike today, there were very few copies of the Bible in circulation as they all had to be hand written. Therefore, Icons were a vital teaching tool in the early life of the Church and still are today. One can say, they are the pictorial scripture of the church. Icons always depict a person, place or event that is in scripture or took place in the life of the church. Therefore, That which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands (1 John 1.1) is depicted in icons. Icons are full of symbolic meaning to convey the theological truths of the True Faith. From the colors, to the stances of the people, to the scenery and lighting, icons teach us who God is, and who we are in relation to Him. Unlike other forms of visual art, iconography is specifically created with worship in mind. Icons help us focus our prayers to God and help us dispel the distracting images that pass through our minds. We believe in a Church that is united across both space and time. In other words, the saints that have preceded us are just as much a part of the Living Body of Christ as our own friends and family. Just as we might cherish an image of a loved one who is no longer physically with us, we too cherish the images of Christ, His mother, and the Saints as images of those we love and who guide us in our own lives. Iconography has, is, and will continue to be a part of the Orthodox Church and Her teachings. 2
3
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Mission Statement In accordance with the decision of our March 25, 2007 Special General Assembly, under the grace of the Holy Spirit, our mission is to continue the legacy of the founders and forefathers of St. George Church of Asbury Park by providing a new, modern church and church complex that meets the spiritual and social needs of our community today and for generations to come. Our new facilities serve to promote the spiritual growth of our parishioners as Greek Orthodox Christians, while preserving our Hellenic culture, customs, language and traditions. On April 1, 2012, St. George Greek Orthodox Church celebrated the Thyranixia (door opening) of our new religious, cultural, administrative and athletic complex. On October 16, 2016, the General Assembly approved a $1.3 million budget for a 3 phase Iconography project. Following a request for proposal process, interviews and site visits, the Parish Council selected and contracted the services of Georgios Giariskanis and Vlachos Brothers in January 2017. We are dedicated to complete the project in an efficient and timely manner and within our budget. This will provide our faithful and their families a place of worship and fellowship, without the burden of future debt. Iconographer Biography Georgios Giariskanis was born in Akrovouni, Kavala in 1962. He is the third child of the Reverend Fr. Petros of blessed memory and Presbytera Georgia Giariskanis. He graduated from the Middle School of Eleftheroupolis and later graduated from the Sacred Academy of Mount Athos (Athoniada) with honors. During his studies on the Holy Mountain, Mr. Giariskanis studied Byzantine Iconography and has earned a degree in this sacred art. With his studies and training complete, he taught iconography in various schools. Having completed his military service and earning an officers rank, he moved to Western Germany where he was trained in the use and application of gold leaf. Together with the Iconographic Firm of Chrystofanes Boutsinas, Mr. Giariskanis contributed to the iconography project for the Holy Churches of the Apostle Paul and the Ascension in Thessaloniki, and in the iconography project for Saint Nicholas in Kozane. He works closely with the Iconographic Firm of the Vlachos Brothers on important projects. Mr. Giariskanis has served as the professor of iconography at the School of Byzantio (Thessaloniki) for dozens of students, many of whom have been hired by Giariskanis Firm upon graduation. Moreover, Giariskanis founded the school of iconography in Nigrita. He has lectured on the theory and theology of iconography in various academic and ecclesiastical circles, most recently in the University of Berns, Geneva and in the Old-Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Berns. Finally, at the recommendation of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Giariskanis was assigned to be a member of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece s Committee for Church Restoration and Decoration. 4
Phase 1 Progress Photos Summer 2017 Photos from the studios of iconographer Giorgios Giariskanis 5
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Phase 1 Estimated Date of Installation Fall 2018 A) The Dome I) Pantokratora $110,000 (gifted) II) Dance of Angels (6) $20,000 each (three angels gifted) III) Twelve Prophets: $10,000 each (one prophet gifted) for a total of $120,000 Daniel, Isaiah, Jonah, Elijah, Salomon, Habakkuk, Gideon, Elias, David, Sophonias, Ezekiel, Ieremias Also designated as Community Icon; for Memorial to Iconography donations B) Pendentives The Four Evangelists, located in the four corners below the dome. I) St. Matthew $50,000 II) St. Mark $50,000 III) St. Luke $50,000 IV) St. John $50,000 C) Scenes of the Life of Christ, located below the dome on either side of the nave. I) Crucifixion $75,000 II) Resurrection $75,000 Crucifixion Resurrection 6
The Dome Phase 1 Pantokratora (center) Dance of Angels (six) Twelve Prophets (between windows) Four Evangelists (corners) 7
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Platytera with Hierarchs Phase 2 Annunciation Medallions Platytera Prothesis Hierarchs 8
Diokonikon 9
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Phase 2 Estimated Date of Installation Spring 2019 H C D A D G E E B F A) Platytera The large icon of Panagia located behind the altar $125,000 (gifted) B) Holy Altar I) Hierarchs - Eight at $15,000 each (Basil, Gregory, John, other Saints TBD) (three gifted) II) Diokonikon (Extreme Humility) $25,000 III) Prothesis (Christ s Birth) $25,000 (gifted) C) Holy Mandylion with Two Angels located above the Platytera $25,000 (gifted) D) Medallions Twelve Holy Apostles located above the Platytera Twelve at $9,000 each (five gifted) Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, Judas, Matthias E) Annunciation $30,000 F) Icons behind Chanter Stand Four at $12,500 per saint (two gifted) G) Icons behind Pulpit Four at $12,500 each H) Arch over Solea Scenes from Ascension $95,000 (center) Birth of Christ $65,000 (right) Pentecost $65,000 (left) 10
Icons Phase 2 Arch over Solea Pentecost Ascension Birth of Christ Icons behind Chanter Stand and Pulpit (saints to be determined by donor) 11
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Phase 3 Fall 2019 Estimated Date of Installation A A A) Scenes from the life and martyrdom of St. George - under the choir loft Birth $20,000 Baptism $20,000 Wheel (torture) $20,000 Beheading $20,000 Funeral $20,000 B) Iconostasis Altar Screen Icons Christ $12,000 St. George $12,000 (gifted) Two Saints (TBD) $12,000 each Virgin Mary $12,000 St. John $12,000 (gifted) Archangels Gabriel & Michael $12,000 (gifted) C) ExoNarthex Mosaics Christ $20,000 Virgin Mary, St. George $10,000 each (gifted) D) Bishop s Throne Icon Church One at $10,000 (gifted) Chapel One at $7,000 12
Icons Phase 3 Scenes from the life and martyrdom of St. George (under choir loft) Wheel/Torture Baptism Birth Birth Beheading Funeral ExoNarthex Mosaics (over center doors) 13
St. George Greek Orthodox Church Iconography Project - Budget Iconography Project - Expense Categories Iconography Design, painting and installation of iconography in three phases Project Execution Scaffolding Additional Equipment Facility preparation Legal Fees Contract development and negotiation Insurance Workman s Compensation Professional Liability Coverage Marketing Document/Brochure Production Fund Raising Costs Transportation/Lodging Airfare, lodging, transportation, food for trips for measurements, design and installation Projected Total Cost / Approved Budget $1,300,000 14
As every man has received a gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 Acknowledgements We thank you in advance for your consideration in giving of your time, talents and treasures to our St. George Iconography project. Our sincerest appreciation to the many stewards who have already gifted icons, made donations in memory of departed loved ones or who have contributed to the general iconography fund. The success of this project is due to your commitment and the dedication of many, including: Fr. Andrew Eugenis Proistamenos Giorgios Giariskanis Lead Iconographer Anne Papageorge, Chair St. George Parish Council John Vrettos President George Costidis Vice President Theo Koufidakis Vice President Athena Loesch Treasurer Spiro Pappas Asst. Treasurer (past President) Barbara Terlecsky Secretary Dimitris Geaneas Teddy Kavarakas (past member) Nick Kosmas Louie Koumoutsos Peter Lalli John Pardenek George Perentesis Mike Psomias Peter Thomas Athanasios Tsilivitis St. George Iconography Committee Athena Loesch Spiro Pappas John Vrettos St. George Contract Sub Committee Emanuel Tsarnas, Esq. St. George Iconography Scaffolding Sub Committee George Nicholas Marko Parlamas St. George Fundraising/Marketing Sub Committee Marissa Costidis Rick Deet Helen Demetriades Theo Koufidakis Marie London Yannah Mazzini George Nicholas Katelyn Regan 15
St. George Greek Orthodox Church 1033 West Park Avenue Ocean, NJ 07712 732-775-2777 www.stgeorgeap.org/iconography GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY