BOSTON | 5-Day Icon-painting with George Kordis using the Byzantine system
August 30, 2025
No Comments
Large-Scale Icon Drawing with George Kordis January 27 – 30, 2026 A 4-day immersion class held at Eikonourgia Studio Part of the SACRED SPACE: A
5-Day Buon Fresco Painting with Mihai Coman January 22 – 26, 2026 A 5-day immersion class with Mihai Coman held at Eikonourgia Studio Step into
August 4–8, 2025 – Galini, Crete This August, Writing the Light is offering a new creative immersion in the quiet village of Galini, along the
THIS RESIDENCY IS NOW OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS ~ NEW ~ Byzantine Woodcut Printmaking with Fotis Varthis A Summer Art Workshop in Galini, South
Another beautiful Summer School with George Kordis was held this past year. With three days in Athens and a week on the island of
Early November brings a special 5-day residency with master artist and iconographer George Kordis just outside of Boston, at the beautiful Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, Massachusetts. This unique program offers an immersive experience in icon painting using Kordis’s signature dry egg tempera techniques and the Byzantine system with its rhythm, line, and color.
Students will learn to compose and paint a complete icon, working step by step with the distinctive underpainting methods that Kordis has developed and refined over several decades. It is an ideal opportunity to deepen one’s artistic and spiritual practice in an inspiring location while studying directly with one of today’s foremost contemporary artists of the Byzantine iconographic tradition.
Good for both beginners and more experienced iconographers, George Kordis will teach his own artistic approach through in-depth demonstrations and guided exercises, introducing the visual language of the icon and the principles of the Byzantine system as a foundation for creating an icon. Basic preliminary drawing instruction will also be shared, but the week will mostly be reserved for the icon-making of the painting process.
Alongside the daily studio sessions, participants will enjoy short lectures and discussion, with reflections on icon history, theology, creativity, and the artistic process. As always, good conversation and friendship will accompany the daily learning, making this both a retreat and a unique learning experience.
The Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester provides an inviting, peaceful and contemplative setting for the residency, just a short distance from Boston, allowing participants to explore the rich cultural and historic surroundings outside of workshop hours.
Each day the residency will be in session from 9am to 4pm with an hour lunch break at noon.
There are many eateries within walking distance of the church for students to enjoy. The attendees can expect to share one evening out with Dr. Kordis, with a hopeful excursion to see the nearby St. Catherine Church in Braintree, MA which he painted on Wednesday of the week, depending on participants interest and transportation during the week (this will be optional, informal, and self-organized).
All pigments, paper, emulsion and icon-board (16″ x 20″) will be provided. Students are asked to bring their own brushes, and drawing materials. More information is shared at registration.
Limited to 18 students.
This residency may be counted toward one of the required residencies for the Certificate in Iconography Program.
Note: THIS RESIDENCY HAS HUGE DEMAND IN THE U.S. — spaces are limited.
Students can arrive into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), which is approximately 12 miles from downtown Winchester. The area is easily accessible by car, taxi, rideshare, or public transit.
There are many lodging options available:
Hotels and Airbnbs in neighboring Woburn (within a short drive to Winchester)
Downtown Boston accommodations, with daily commutes possible via the MBTA commuter rail from North Station to Winchester Center Station (taking around 20 minutes leaving each hour), followed by a short 10-minute walk to the church.
We will provide a list of recommended hotels and Airbnb options closer to the program date so students can book according to their preferences and budgets.
Please feel free to contact Director Ker Wiederspahn at info.writingthelight@gmail.com.
