The Writing the Light Certificate Degree

In partnership with the Institute of Sacred Arts, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, USA

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

With the mentorship of Dr. George Kordis, one of the top contemporary artist iconographers and Byzantine art scholars in the world, Writing the Light provides a well-rounded curriculum in the studio practice of contemporary Byzantine iconography. 

Now packaged as a CERTIFICATE with the partnership of the Institute of Sacred Arts ~  

We welcome you to join this unique program.

With an international scope and based on a low-residency model, the Certificate combines select in-person residencies at various international destinations paired with the freedom of online engagement from a home location anywhere in the world, making it possible for students to learn, grow and achieve success.

As a studio-based program in the practice of making icons, it includes additional overview course-work in Byzantine Art History, Theology and Aesthetics, allowing optimal time for advancing in the creative process, skills and techniques needed in this specialized field.

It is therefore the perfect accompaniment to students pursuing matriculated degrees in related fields, or simply pursued independently for full immersion in learning to create icons using the Byzantine System cultivated by Dr. Kordis, moving towards a professional practice.

The Writing the Light curriculum is ideally designed for a 3-year period of study (with a new Foundation Year introduced in Fall 2024), responsive to each individual student and their specific needs with flexibility and affordability.  It can also be fulfilled in two years based on experience and Dr. Kordis’s placement recommendations.  In 2025, an optional 4th year for Church Wall-Painting is currently in development (see more information further below), and will be offered as an add-on for select Certificate students.

The online program is manageable for most students, with a realistic timeline to assure success in a part-time commitment.  Based on incoming applicant review, some students may be eligible to be considered for a waiver of certain coursework (see APPLY for more information), if they have previously studied under Dr. Kordis or have prior experience that can carry over.   This can only be determined in the application process with personalized recommendation.

The program begins in the Fall of any given year, or if applying with satisfied prior coursework, occasionally can begin in the Spring Semester at semester two if space is available.

A final thesis of an original composition of an icon(s) will be the highlight and culmination of the program coursework, with an exhibition at the Mets Art Center in Athens, Greece and/or at an appropriate exhibition space in the United States.

TWO CORE PARTS TO THE CURRICULUM:

1. ONLINE – Classes are a balanced combination of a recorded (asynchronous) e-learning system and LIVE (synchronous) virtual seminars and classes delivered through Zoom and Vimeo with individualized long-distance critique and oversight. 
2. RESIDENCIES – There are four required residencies with multiple options for students to choose from.  If taking the 3-year program, the required residencies increases to five total, with the ability to take one of the 10-day Greek residencies virtually.  These immersions are a critical part of the program to provide valuable in-person instruction, critique and oversight for growth and artistic progress.  These 7 to 10-day residencies are currently held offered in several locations.  Students may choose residencies in GREECE (both in Athens each January and Crete each August), NEW YORK, USA at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, East or West Coast USA, and more.  The flexibility for students to choose the location and time of year of the residencies to fit into their life schedule is a major asset to the program.

(see Residencies)

ONLINE CURRICULUM

There is both a 3-year program with an additional Foundation Year as well as the 2-year core program.

NEW FOR FALL 2024:

Foundation Year Program

This first-year course of study immerses students in a detailed practical exploration of the Byzantine system to form a solid foundation in its concepts, skills, and practices, training them to become confident in their independent drawing and painting skills. The curriculum prepares students for the mentorship with Dr. Kordis in the following two years of the program, better prepared to enter the next phase of learning.  The core Foundation Year classes of Drawing and Painting are taught by Maria Panou, who has worked closely with Dr. Kordis as first assistant in multiple church-painting projects and she also co-teaches most of the in-person international residencies with him.  Learn more about Maria Panou here. 

We recommend this additional year for students who have minimal art training background.  Upon acceptance into the Certificate Program, placement recommendations by Dr. Kordis will be given.  

1. THREE YEAR PROGRAM ~ New

Includes a Foundation Year

* Note some of the Theology & Aesthetics Classes and Byzantine Art History Classes for Foundation students will be adjusted in year two and three below.

The Foundation Year is then added to the below:

2. TWO YEAR CORE PROGRAM — 4 semesters

Thesis Semester

The last semester of the Certificate Program is dedicated to the Thesis.  Students will have options to consider if they wish to contain their thesis within one semester, or extend out from one to two or even more semesters to continue to grow and improve. We understand that each student reaches readiness at various points in their studies, as well as manages unique time and life demands.  We therefore feel it is important to allow flexibility for each individual to complete their thesis when they feel ready, in tandem with recommendations by George Kordis in order to have a successful closure to their training period.

RESIDENCIES

Certificate Program Residencies 

The Writing the Light Residencies are a critical part of the unique program, offering an in-person balance to the virtual online program.  These are hands-on, valuable opportunities to learn directly from Dr. Kordis and his extended faculty.  Students will be able to dive into the nuances of the technical application of drawing and painting and gain a deeper understanding of the various materials.

All residencies have an intensive practical focus – on icon drawing and painting in the Byzantine system.  They will cover the material and creative aspect of the medium of egg tempera.  They will also include rotating specialized instruction on the preparation of grounds, gilding, and an overview of various alternative painting mediums and methods – from fresco to digital painting, along with basic marketing and professional best practices.  The Romanian Residency (currently on hold) is unique as it will feature a special focus on church work with large scale drawing and painting with the “buon fresco” technique, curated for those who wish to explore professional church painting and experience its particular application.

With an International scope, the residencies are primarily held in Greece (Athens and Crete), the US (New York, New Hampshire and West Coast, USA). Students can choose which residencies work best with their schedules, aiming to optimally attend two residencies per year. There are four residencies total required for graduation.  Students who have already attended previous workshops with Dr. Kordis can obtain a waiver of up to one residency towards fulfillment of their Certificate, but are welcome to attend more residencies than the basic requirement to graduate.

Certificate students will be asked to share a personal residency plan upon entrance to the program, with the ability to amend as life demands.  The first in-person residency should be scheduled as close as possible to the first online semester – either before or immediately after.

Students must be prepared to cover the additional cost of travel, food and lodging while at the Residencies, and factor this into their overall budget for the full two-year program.  The basic additional costs of what to expect per residency (beyond tuition) are estimated separately on the individual RESIDENCIES page, and will vary according to both an individual’s home state or country and the chosen residency location and duration.

PLEASE NOTE that Residencies are also open to non-Certificate students, but only after Certificate students have secured their intentions and attendance preferences.  Residencies usually will have a select number of spaces available for non-Certificate students to join.

Certificate students are offered priority registration to the residencies (except for the Summer School in Greece, which is always filled on a first-come, first-served basis).

All of the residencies with specific details and descriptions outlined individually on our RESIDENCIES page.

All of the residencies are billed separately as a separate Residential Tuition Fee payable in advance of the scheduled residency as a deposit in order to secure a spot (Summer School is billed six months out with a deposit suggested as soon as it has been selected due to the popularity of the program), with full payment required three months in advance.

Church Wall-Painting — An Optional Fourth Year Program 

CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT

As Dr. Kordis is regarded as one of the top master contemporary iconographers working in this specialized field today, it is with the interest and urging of many students around the world that Writing the Light is currently forming a fourth year program for those students who wish to include a special focus in church wall-painting in their training.  With exposure to a deeper understanding of the role of church painting and the elements of design on a larger scale, students will enter into a year that encompasses theory, methodology, materials, and first hand apprenticeship experience working with Dr. Kordis and Kordis’s church-painting team.  The select group of students in this limited cohort will engage in the practice of techniques through the culminating opportunity to paint a chapel in Greece alongside Dr. Kordis as well as options for various internship and work/study opportunities.

Launching Summer 2025.

Ongoing Support and Opportunities

Once a student has made satisfied their Certificate requirements and completed their studies, Writing the Light intends to continue to nurture and enhance the growing community of our artist alumni by various means –  through special teaching assistant opportunities, unique in-person artist studio residency experiences (in Athens and Crete), international exhibitions, various alumni networks and new artist residencies at international destinations. We look towards advancing a rich network of peers who are fully engaged in their practice and actively growing and expanding their creative and professional relationships and ongoing dialogue.