St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

Serving Emmaus and the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

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You are here: Home / Archives for beautification

Orthodox Iconography Lecture on Feb. 17: Creating an Icon for Emmaus, PA

January 22, 2019 By St. Paul Emmaus

Creating an Icon for Emmaus, PA, and other peculiarities of contemporary iconography

On Sunday, February 17, at 10:30am, Orthodox Christian iconographer Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski will be discussing the creation of the “Axion Estin of Emmaus” icon and will briefly touch on relevant issues which iconographers in previous centuries never encountered.

The talk will be preceded by the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, served at 9am.

MORE ABOUT PROTODEACON PAUL:

A lifelong artist, Pdn. Paul formally studied drawing, painting, printmaking, and design at Tyler School of Art, Temple University, earning a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts. Subsequently, he spent a year and a half studying at Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in Jordanville, NY. During that time, he simultaneously worked under the tutelage of master iconographer Fr. Andrei Erastov, and began fulfilling monastery orders almost immediately. Thus he was able to synthesize his artistic studies. Since then, Pdn. Paul has fulfilled many commissions for both churches and individuals, and his work can be seen coast to coast. He is also the illustrator of the children’s book St. Seraphim’s Beatitudes, authored by Fr. Daniel Marshall. Pdn. Paul enjoys classical music, world and local history, and nature walks with his family. Fr. Paul is currently an ordained clergyman, in the rank of protodeacon, and serves at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Howell, NJ.

MORE ABOUT THE ICON:

This icon, enshrined at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, is modeled on the original Axion Estin (“It Is Truly Meet”) icon of Mount Athos (feast day, June 11).

It was in AD 982 before the Athonite icon that the expanded version of the hymn “More honorable than the cherubim…” was first sung by the Archangel Gabriel, who added the prelude “It is truly meet to call thee blessed, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-blameless and the Mother of our God,” and inscribed the hymn miraculously with his finger on a slate tile. The hymn has been sung ever since in the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.

The original Axion Estin icon is kept in the apse of the Protaton Church in Karyes on Mount Athos. The Axion Estin of Emmaus was painted by iconographer Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski in 2018. It features the main inscription in four languages: Greek (next to the head of the Virgin), Church Slavonic and Arabic (at top), and English (at bottom).

The six saints who surround the Theotokos and the Lord Jesus are the Holy Hierarchs of America: (top) Tikhon of Moscow and Raphael of Brooklyn, (middle) Innocent of Moscow and Mardarije of Libertyville, (bottom) John of San Francisco and Nikolaj of Žiča. All served in America, and several of them spent time in Pennsylvania.

Filed Under: Education, News & Events Tagged With: beautification, education, iconography

Axion Estin Icon enshrined and dedicated at St. Paul’s

October 6, 2018 By St. Paul Emmaus

On Sunday, Oct. 7, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, St. Paul’s dedicated the Axion Estin (“It Is Truly Meet”) icon of the Theotokos which was commissioned by our parish and recently completed. Here is some information about the icon:

This icon, enshrined at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, is modeled on the original Axion Estin (“It Is Truly Meet”) icon of Mount Athos (feast day, June 11).

It was in AD 982 before the Athonite icon that the expanded version of the hymn “More honorable than the cherubim…” was first sung by the Archangel Gabriel, who added the prelude “It is truly meet to call thee blessed, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-blameless and the Mother of our God,” and inscribed the hymn miraculously with his finger on a slate tile. The hymn has been sung ever since in the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.

The original Axion Estin icon is kept in the apse of the Protaton Church in Karyes on Mount Athos.

The Axion Estin of Emmaus was painted by iconographer Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski in 2018. It features the main inscription in four languages: Greek (next to the head of the Virgin), Church Slavonic and Arabic (at top), and English (at bottom).

The six saints who surround the Theotokos and the Lord Jesus are the Holy Hierarchs of America: (top) Tikhon of Moscow and Raphael of Brooklyn, (middle) Innocent of Moscow and Mardarije of Libertyville, (bottom) John of San Francisco and Nikolaj of Žiča. All served in America, and several of them spent time in Pennsylvania.

Through the prayers of the most holy Theotokos and the Holy Hierarchs of America, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us!

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: beautification, icons

Beautification Project Moving Into Phase Two: Please Give!

July 12, 2017 By St. Paul Emmaus

Dear in Christ,

God bless you!

Thanks be to God, we’ve received the final set of estimates for all the work needing to be done for our parish beautification project, which the parish council announced in February.

QUICK RUN-DOWN OF THIS MESSAGE:

  • We’re roughly 60% done with the beautification project – Phase One is nearly done.
  • We’ve received approx. $25,000 in donations so far.
  • We need about $16,000 more to complete Phase Two.
  • Don’t forget about your regular pledging.

Read a more detailed description of the beautification project here.

Click here to donate now!

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PHASE ONE WORK COMPLETED:

With the donations we’ve received so far, totaling approximately $25,000, we have been able to:

  1. complete most of the work for replacing all but one of the external doors and all the external locks (by far the most expensive and complicated piece of this project; this was needed whether we did the cosmetic work or not because of the age of the equipment),
  2. install new aluminum Greek columns at the porticoes (the old wood columns were rotting, so this was also necessary),
  3. remove old window shutters,
  4. install related aluminum and other preparatory work on the porticoes, and
  5. install new lighting in those same locations and shining on the front of the building.

This is the foundational work needed to be done before the more cosmetic phase can begin.

I think you’ll agree that our building is already far more beautiful than it was! The blue doors and Greek columns have already transformed the way we look and make our facade look much more like a church.

PHASE TWO WORK NEEDING TO BE DONE:

In order for us to complete all the work needed for the project, we will need an additional approximately $16,000 in donations. This will be used to:

  1. install all the external iconography,
  2. install a banner sign on the telephone pole out front,
  3. install a cross above our main entrance,
  4. paint the brown lettering white to match the main cross, and
  5. finish up the door and lock work.

The parish council’s plan is to begin and continue this work as donations become available. We’ve made a detailed schedule prioritizing which pieces to do in which order. (If you’re interested in seeing this schedule, you can contact a member of the council.)

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY:

We look forward to the blessing of further upgrading the external presentation of our church building, both for the edification of those who already worship at St. Paul’s and for the increased visibility of our parish in the Emmaus and Lehigh Valley community.

First, pray to ask God what He would have you do to (further) contribute to this project, then discuss it with your family, then make that commitment and follow through. No matter what you are able to do (even if it’s just a small amount), support the work of our parish with your prayers.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR REGULAR PLEDGES:

All this work is in addition to our regular pledges, which support the normal operating cost of the parish. So don’t “rob Peter to pay Paul,” so to speak, in order to give to this beautification project. Summertime is also one of the “leaner” times of the year regarding pledge giving, so remember to keep up to date on your regular commitment to support St. Paul’s operations.

Thank you, and may God bless all your generosity!

Click here to donate now!

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Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: beautification

Parish Council Announces Beautification Project

February 5, 2017 By St. Paul Emmaus

On Sunday, February 5, the parish council of St. Paul’s announced a major beautification project to enhance the visibility and beauty of the front of our temple and parish hall.

Above are “Before” and “After” images of the front of St. Paul Orthodox Church (Emmaus, PA). (Click for larger versions.)

The “After” is a conceptual artist’s rendering for a beautification project that should in its first phase be underway in the near future. This is the fruit of a lot of work by our parish council, especially with design work by Michael Sayre and a lot of input and logistical work from Joe Dunski, our maintenance committee head.

The “After” is just a conceptual drawing at this point — various things will likely change, and those icons you see are probably not the final images but are place-holders for the time being until we can finalize some images that we can use.

Large prints of these images are now in the narthex. Also included is a much more detailed list of the things that are going to be done, including replacement of most of our external doors. (That list is also below.)

If you’re interested in making a donation (no matter how large or how small!) to this project, perhaps in memory of a loved one or in honor of their continued health, you can speak with Fr. Andrew or any member of our parish council. You can also just drop a donation in the basket — be sure that it’s marked “beautification project” and that your envelope includes any names you would like remembered in prayer.

Please consider giving what you can toward this project — no matter how big or how small.

We will soon be getting estimates for more of the work that is needed to be done, and we’ve already received a significant amount in donations so far. This is your chance to make your mark for the beauty and visibility of our parish building. Both your prayers and your donations are needed!


Program of Repairs and Enhancements to Façade and Entranceways

REPAIRS
– Replace 3 front doors and 1 rear door
– Replace portico columns
– Remove window shutters
– Remove exterior sconce lights at doorways
– Replace all portico aluminum fascia and soffit trim
– Remove concrete walkway between central doorway and social hall doorway

ENHANCEMENTS
– Install 4’x2’ banner on telephone pole at sidewalk
– Repaint church name letters all white
– Add angel figures to left and right of cross above church name
– Add iconographic images to pediments (upper triangular front face of portico)
– Relocate double doors to central doorway
– New single door design with semicircular windows
– New double door design with split semicircular windows
– Add new classical style columns
– Change color of all portico soffits (undersides) to blue
– Install new recessed lighting in 3 portico soffits
– Add down lighting to illuminate the 3 pediment icon images
– Add landscaping between central doorway and social hall doorway
– Add parking bumpers in front of new landscaping
– Paint central entranceway pavement blue
– Add ‘kissing’ icons to central doorway to left and right of double doors
– Refurbish exterior illuminated bulletin board at left side of social hall doorway
– Add ‘greeting’ icon (Meeting on Road to Emmaus) to right side of social hall doorway
– Complete central entranceway with new cross mounted to top of pediment

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: beautification

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St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

Planting the Seeds of Orthodoxy,
Cultivating Christian Community

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156 E. Main St.
Emmaus, PA 18049

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