GEORGE KORDIS ANNUAL SUMMER ICON SCHOOL

AUGUST 8 – 18th, 2026

Held on the peaceful island of Crete, this 10-day immersive summer icon painting study program will allow balanced daily studio learning with additional trips to churches and monasteries as a part of the inspirational curriculum –along with shared meals and curated evenings of food, discussion, music and camaraderie.

We are currently planning a special anniversary celebration to honor our five years of Summer School in Crete.

OVERVIEW:

Our Summer Iconography School is a unique opportunity to immerse in learning iconography in-person from Dr. George Kordis in his native country of Greece. The instruction will begin with several days drawing in the Byzantine system and will then focus on painting and various techniques in the Byzantine system specifically with the dry egg tempera technique.

The program will now be held exclusively on Crete to enjoy a full 10 days of peaceful and inspirational learning with Dr. Kordis.  Hosted at the renowned Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAC) — a unique sanctuary in the mountainous hills of Northern Crete near the village of Kolymbari overlooking the sea and within walking distance of both village and beach, the Academy hosts two Botanical Museums, an extensive library as well as several ancient churches on-site or adjacent, including the famous Gonia Odigitria Monastery which allows for beautiful and convenient access to the Feast Days for the Dormition of the Holy Mother (Assumption of Mary) of the 15th of August, occurring during the same time as the summer school.

The food is highly rated and is included in the separate lodging cost. Students registered in the program are required to stay at the OAC for the best group experience (spouses and other family members welcomed ~ scroll down for specific information). The stay will be split between daily studio work and optional trips (also included in cost) to monasteries to visit significant ancient icon paintings, monasteries and churches and free time to visit some of the best beaches in Europe (Elafonisi and Falasarna Beach).

For more information on the unique location, please visit the website for Orthodox Academy of Crete.

Each day will comprise an average of 6 hours of studio time paired with relaxed visits in the afternoons to museums, churches and monasteries to see inspiring ancient and contemporary examples of iconography.  We are aiming to add a special visit to a new exhibition of Dr. Kordis’s in 2026.

The program is good for beginner, intermediate or advanced levels, as all instruction is individualized and broken into groups based on student preference and determined skills and comfortability.

The summer school is conducted in English.

The full description is found in the Residencies and Summer School section HERE

ONCE YOUR DEPOSIT IS MADE, you will receive additional follow-up information from Writing the Light.

REGARDING REGISTRATION & REFUND POLICY 
* The 400 euros deposit is non-refundable

* Make sure to secure all travel and lodging with generous policy for any changes/cancellations.

*  Should you need to cancel attendance you will receive a refund for any balance paid minus the deposit if we are notified prior to June 1st.  If you cancel attendance after June 1st, you will forfeit your deposit, and will only be refunded your remaining amount paid minus an additional 100 euro administrative fee, OR you may also choose to apply your unused tuition and deposit in full to summer of 2027 or to a January 2027 program so you will not lose your full investment if you unfortunately have to withdraw at the last minute.
* We will work as generously as possible with students experiencing unforeseen illness or travel issues that prevent attendance.  Usually this will be handled on a case-by-case basis. We understand there are many factors beyond your control with travel, and we ask that you be up-to-date with all travel policy for entering Greece, your time in Greece, as well as requirements for your own country while traveling abroad.

We always try to work to make an agreeable outcome on a case by case basis in cases of withdrawal.

Please contact Director Keri Wiederspahn for any further questions: keri@writingthelight.com.