Connecticut Man Paints Religious icons for Eastern Christian Churches

RECORD-JOURNAL
By Molly Callahan

Detail of icon painting by Andrew Bobik, who also teaches a weekly class meets in the church hall on icons.

CONNECTICUT---For one man who paints religious icons, the effort by Eastern Christian churches to raise awareness of icons has given his work new purpose. Andrew Bobik paints religious icons such as angels, saints and Jesus Himself, in the Byzantine style of painting. Icons refer to any paintings of religious figures. At Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church on Park Avenue, where Bobik is a member, icons adorn the walls and ceiling, helping to tell the story of Bible passages, said the Rev. Joshua Mosher. Because they are writing out a specific story, iconographers like Bobik are said to “write” icons, rather than paint them. Icons were originally used centuries ago to help parishioners who could not read follow along with the church service. Today the images are helpful in explaining dense, complex biblical concepts to children, Mosher said. [link]