The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Stewardship Ministry “Let Your Light Shine” 2023 Monthly Ministry Series continues with a creative and engaging presentation on Monday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. Pacific entitled “Icons, Iconography and Iconographers”. Dr. Eve Tibbs from our Metropolis Christian Education ministry will host this session with two of our clergy who are also gifted iconographers.
The seminar will introduce the concept of icons and their use in the life of the Church, as well as the firsthand reflection of two of our own Metropolis priests, Rev. Father Michael Courey from Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Redondo Beach, CA, and Rev. Father Tom Tsagalakis, from Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Shoreline, WA, both of whom are iconographers. They will share and describe some of the icons created from their hands, and reflect on God's call in their lives to share the Gospel in form and color.
For more information, please email metropolis@sanfran.goarch.org or call 415-753-3075.
Your Host
Dr. Paraskevè (Eve) Tibbs
Dr. Paraskevè (Eve) Tibbs holds a PhD in Systematic Theology with a minor in Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, where she has also served as Affiliate Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology since 2005.
Her recent book, A Basic Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology: Introducing Beliefs and Practices, with Foreword by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, was released by Baker Academic Publishing in July 2021. Eve served six years as Chair of the Eastern Orthodox Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion and currently serves as the Ministry Lead for Christian Education and on the Metropolis Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. Eve serves as the Choir Director, Chanter, Bible Study leader, and Chair of the Church School Board at Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, Irvine, CA.
Guest Presenter
Rev. Father Michael Courey
Fr. Michael has served as the pastor of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Redondo Beach, CA since 1997. He and his wife, Presvytera Maria, are the parents of four adult children. Fr. Michael holds degrees from The College of Wooster (B.A. Studio Art), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Master of Divinity), and Fuller Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). His post-graduate work has been focused in the area of Orthodox Christian Spirituality
Fr. Michael is the author and illustrator of Walk in the Light: Spiritual Exercises in Great Lent for Young Adults. As a visual artist, iconographer, and symposia speaker, he has presented lectures, workshops, and retreats at Loyola Marymount University, the Getty Center and Getty Villa, and Mary & Joseph and St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center. Recently, Fr. Michael completed eight icons for the iconostasis for St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in San Juan Capistrano. His pastoral reflection, Sources of Inspiration for the Contemporary Iconographer, was published in a collection of essays entitled Icons and The Liturgy, East and West: History, Theology, and Culture edited by Rev. Dr. Nicholas Denysenko (Notre Dame Press, 2017). Currently, Fr. Michael serves on the Advisory Board of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Loyola Marymount University where he is also a lecturer at Loyola Marymount University in the theology department and is advisor for the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox and Inter-faith student fellowships on campus.
Rev. Father Tom Tsagalakis
Father Tom serves as the priest of Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Shoreline, WA for the past 20 years. He learned to write icons from Kosta Tsiltsividis, a master iconographer/artist while he was in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1987 – 1988. Father Tom has written icons for the past thirty years and his last project was writing the icons for Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox church in Shoreline.
He loves iconography and their importance in our church. Iconography is a sacred art depicting reality, inviting us into the present moment with Christ. In describing iconography, Father Tom shared, “This art calls humans back to their roots to be a living, loving, Holy icon. Just as pictures of our loved ones in our wallets or homes remind us of family or friends gone from this earth, the icons are a reminder of the sacred people and events representing a world regenerated by divine Grace.”
Save these dates! All on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Pacific
Monday, October 16
Engaging our Youth and Young Adults in our post-COVID Era
Ministry Host: Youth and Young Adults
Monday, November 20
Being the Light and Lighthouse for True Christian Stewardship
Ministry Host: Stewardship
Monday, December 18
Developing and Engaging…Creating your Parish Plan for the New Year
Ministry Host: Orthodox Parish Leadership
