Drawing Closer to God: Icon Writing Onsite Weekend Retreat

Drawing Closer to God: Icon Writing Weekend Retreat

In the Orthodox Christian tradition, icons are said to be “written not painted”. It is considered a form of prayer guided by the Hand of God. In this retreat, the participant will partake in the experience of the spiritual process of creating your own piece. Each finished product will be blessed by a local priest at the conclusion of the program.

Icon writing is a rich spiritual practice, a meeting place between the divine and the human. Part of the icon’s symbolism is transmitted through the step-by-step technique used to create it, including style, materials, stance, and actions.

This three-day workshop is an exploration of visual prayer using a traditional Byzantine image to draw closer to God. Each session opens with a prayer of intention. Participants work on their icons in silence, listening to Gregorian chants, giving the participant an experience of deep contemplation.

No prior art experience is necessary.

Martha Keeble has taught art for more than 35 years. She has a BFA in drawing and paining from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in art education from Georgia State University. Martha has written icons for the past five years and has found it to be a profound spiritual experience.