NEW FOR SUMMER ~ Byzantine Woodcut Printmaking with Fotis Varthis

A Special 5 -day Summer Art Workshop in Kolymbari, Crete at the Orthodox Academy

Part of the Writing the Light Summer School

August 8 – 13, 2026. 

Open to Beginners or Experienced Artists.

Overview

This 5-day program will provide a retreat-like experience in the inspiring natural landscape of Northern Crete at the renowned Orthodox Academy of Crete next to the sea. Set against the stunning backdrop of the mountains, the Orthodox Academy is adjacent to the famous Gonia Monastery, in the picturesque village of Kolymbari.  Here students will delve into the art of ancient woodcut, learning techniques with a master printmaker.

As part of the continued growth of the Writing the Light Summer School in Crete, we are delighted to introduce another workshop in Byzantine woodcut printmaking led by Greek artist, master printmaker, and engraver Fotis Varthis.

Now in its fifth year, the Summer School brings together artists from around the world in the unique setting of the Orthodox Academy of Crete. This new woodcut workshop expands the program, offering participants an additional pathway into the Byzantine visual tradition through the language of carving and print.

The program will also include an opening drawing session led by master artist and iconographer George Kordis, creating a shared foundation across disciplines within the Summer School.

The Workshop

This five-day workshop explores the art of Byzantine woodcut printmaking, a medium rooted in line, rhythm, and the expressive power of carving.

Participants will begin with a drawing session led by George Kordis, developing compositions within the Byzantine visual system. These drawings will then be translated into woodcut prints under the guidance of Fotis Varthis.

This year’s theme:  Jonah and the Whale

This workshop is unique to the main program — ICON DRAWING & PAINTING in the Byzantine system with George Kordis.

Process & Practice

Working step by step, participants will be introduced to the traditional process of woodblock carving and printing.

Under Fotis’s guidance, students will explore:

• carving techniques and tool handling
• the translation of drawing into relief form
• the role of line in shaping light and volume
• rhythm as a structuring force in composition

Woodcut offers a powerful way to understand light, form, and movement within the Byzantine system, making it especially valuable for icon painters and artists interested in sacred art.

Setting

The Summer School takes place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, located by the sea in the village of Kolymbari, with the mountains rising behind and the historic Gonia Monastery nearby.  Lodging, meals and afternoon excursions are provided onsite with the separate lodging and meals fee.

This setting offers a retreat-like atmosphere — quiet, expansive, and deeply connected to the rhythms of nature.

Daily Life within the Summer School

Participants in the woodcut workshop are fully part of the Summer School community.  

Mornings and early afternoons are devoted to focused studio work.

Late afternoons open into shared excursions with the wider Summer School group—exploring the landscape, local culture, and ancient Byzantine sites of Crete.

All participants gather for meals at the Academy, enjoying traditional Cretan cuisine in a warm and communal setting.

A New Path within the Tradition

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to engage the Byzantine tradition through a different medium—one that reveals the power of line through carving and print.

Whether you are new to printmaking or an experienced artist, this program invites you to:

• expand your artistic practice
• deepen your understanding of the Byzantine visual language
• work closely with master artists
• become part of a vibrant and evolving artistic community

Tuition

€725 — Early Registration (before June 1, use “SPRING” as code at registration check out)
€750 — Standard Tuition after June 1st

Tuition includes all instruction, wood panels, and access to carving tools and printing materials for the duration of the workshop.

Participants will also take part in the shared life of the Summer School, including group meals and afternoon excursions.

Limited to 12 participants.

About the Instructor

Fotis Varthis

Master Wood Engraver and Instructor

Fotis Varthis, born in 1983 on Corfu island, currently lives and works in Athens. His artistic journey began at age 11, studying hagiography with renowned teachers. Although he later explored graphic design, a desire for personal expression led him to the Athens School of Fine Arts. Varthis’s artwork has been shown in prestigious galleries and is featured in private and corporate collections worldwide, including the Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens.  He actively collaborates with publishers across Europe and the USA, creating and contributing his works, and shares his expertise as a wood engraving instructor at Eikonourgia Studio in Athens.

About the Process

Woodcut is a relief printing technique rooted in the expressive power of line and contrast.

Working with a wooden block, the artist carves into the surface using hand engraving tools. The areas that are cut away remain unprinted, while the raised surface receives ink and transfers the image onto paper. Through this process, the image emerges through the balance of carved and uncarved space.

Once the carving is complete, the block is inked using a roller and printed onto paper. Prints can be made by hand or with the use of a press, allowing for multiple impressions of the same image.

Materials & Tools

Wood panels will be provided, along with all necessary carving tools. Students will have the option to purchase tools if they wish to continue their practice beyond the course.

A selection of paper will be provided for printing. Participants are also encouraged to bring additional paper of their choice for experimentation and multiple impressions—recommendations will be shared in advance.

By the end of the workshop, students will leave with a small portfolio of prints and will be encouraged to exchange work with fellow participants.

Lodging, Meals & Excursions: The Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAC)

Participants are required to stay on-site.

Crete Orthodox Center Fee: 

After registration, for your stay on Crete, you will need to select your choice of:

• 5 nights single room accommodation at the OAC with private bath (800 euros)
• 5 nights double room accommodation at the OAC with private shared bath (685 euros)

Payment for the OAC is in July, one month prior to the start of the Summer School (and is non-refundable).  We will give instructions on how to secure the payment directly to the OAC at the appropriate time.

Students can also opt to stay on longer at the OAC:

OPTION B (10 nights) with excursions: 1290 shared/1550 private (same as Summer School) — there is no studio instruction provided during the extra days with this option.

NOTE: Writing the Light Certificate students may opt to stay on and work on a specific independent icon project by permission during the extra days (August 13 — 18), working in a private studio if they took Byzantine Woodcut.  

ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO BRING A SPOUSE or TRAVEL FRIEND (or a child 12 and older or under 12 if accompanied with a non-participating parent/care-giver) by paying a per person fee for the Orthodox Center lodging, excursions & meals.

The OAC fee includes:

•   Welcome reception
•   Accommodation at the OAC’s rooms with daily breakfast
•   Lunches and Dinners at the OAC (with red/white wine) according to the traditional Cretan cuisine
•   Coffee and Tea, biscuits available throughout the Workshop
•   Transfers by bus from the Port of Souda, Chania to the OAC as you arrive by ferry from Piraeus, Athens or from the Chania airport (CHQ) to the OAC
• Special Group Dinner at the old harbor of Chania (dinner included in cost)
• ALL EXCURSIONS:

1.  To the church of Archangel Michael, Rotonda  Episkopi,the Church of  Saint Stephan – Drakona and Church of Saint John the Herimit- Marathokefala
2.  Visit at the Holy Monasteries of Chrysopigis and  the Holy Trinity and the Museum of Icons, the Grave of Benizelos, small tour at the  old city of Chania

REGISTRATION PROCESS

1. Please pay full tuition through the registration portal — you will then be contacted to confirm and share next steps.  If registering before June 1st, you may apply the early discount by entering “SPRING” at check out.

2. You will only need to pay the Orthodox Center Lodging deposit one month out from the actual event (it is non-refundable from that point).  We will provide a separate Travel form for indicating lodging preference after registration.

NOTE: You will need to independently secure your air or ferry travel to and from Crete.

Your round trip travel to Crete can be made by boat or by plane. The ferry must be booked in advance (link for tickets will be shared closer to the date, with an average of 60 euros per person economy seat, with more for a cabin with a bed).  The Orthodox Academy will be able to provide transport to and from the OAC upon arrival from the port on the morning of August 8th as it is located approximately an hour North from the port.  Bear in mind that most ferry and airlines from Athens to Crete will not post schedules for August until around May 2026.