Painter almost done with Jackson church's 400-some images

Sacramento Bee ^ | 10/3/08 | Jamie Garza

[Bokababe]

...."The work is amazing. People are already coming by," said Tumbas. "Miloje has accomplished in 12 years what it often takes generations to do."

Now the walls and ceilings are covered with brightly covered religious images that represent scenes from the Bible. The birth of Jesus, the raising of Lazarus, Jesus' death on the cross. There are also drawings of saints and other holy figures that would have special meaning to the Serbian Orthodox such as St. Sava, a member of the royal family who gave up his crown to become a monk.

"Iconography is considered the poor man's Bible," said Triva Pavlov, a deacon in the church. "Most of the people didn't read, but they were familiar with the stories."

[Bokababe]

Before people could read, and before those who did read could afford Bibles, iconography (pictures) was their Bible.

Miloje is an old friend, and does breathtakingly beautiful work.

[Bokababe]

[Darkwolf377]

Now the walls and ceilings are covered with brightly covered religious images that represent scenes from the Bible. The birth of Jesus, the raising of Lazarus, Jesus' death on the cross. There are also drawings of saints and other holy figures

When did Obama find the time to pose?

[Bokababe]

[redhead]

Our new little Byzantine parish, Bl. Theodore Romzha, is beginning the process of building a church. We use Icons in place of statuary, like the Latin rite. We estimate that the icon screen will be the one most expensive item, next to the building itself. The one in the mother church, St. Nicholas of Myra, in Anchorage, is irreplaceable, with hand carved grapevines, and holds icons painted by iconographer Charles Rohrbacher. Father has the largest Catholic parish in the U.S.--586,000 plus square miles (he's the only Byzantine pastor in the state).

[Westlander]

Truly amazing. His hands are guided.

[SQUID]

He is a good man.

[Between the Lines]

"Iconography is considered the poor man's Bible,"

Apparently not:

Church leaders won't disclose the cost, but "it is well into the six figures," said the Rev. Stephen Tumbas, the church's priest. He added that it was a big financial undertaking for a congregation of about 50.

[Bokababe]

"Iconography is considered the poor man's Bible,"...

"Apparently not:". Church leaders won't disclose the cost, but "it is well into the six figures.."

He should have said "WAS the poor man's Bible".

Prior to Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1439, a hand-copied edition of the Bible was very expensive. And most people couldn't read anyway. So iconography told them the stories of the Bible to the individual on the church walls "for free".

Back then, iconographers were often monks who weren't as highly paid as they are now, nor were the paints and supplies as expensive.

Today, great iconographers are highly sought-after and there aren't many of them. Travel half-way round the world and years of people's lives to complete a project, costs much more. And in this case, I can tell you that Miloje ISN'T "a monk" -- but nor is he rich.

It is true that work like this is expensive for a parish. But the Jackson church is lucky -- because it is the first Serbian Orthodox church in the USA, donations have come from far and wide to complete the project.

[Bokababe]

This is from another church, in Fair Oaks CA, that Miloje did. It is inside a dome. And I can't tell you how many children (and adults) one can see slack-jawed staring upward at it, on any given Sunday.

By the way, Miloje doesn't sign any of this work. It's only the fact that we live in such a digital age that contributes to Miloje's name even being known to more than just the handful of those who hired him

The famous painter "El Greco" who inspired so many other Western artists, began originally as an iconographer.

[TASMANIANRED]

Simply lovely.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Thanks for the link. I passed it on to alot of my artist friends from CA....they are eager to visit the church.
Please tell your friend he has succceded...it is truely magnificent! Mnogaja ljeta!!!!

[Bokababe]

"Our new little Byzantine parish, Bl. Theodore Romzha, is beginning the process of building a church. We use Icons in place of statuary, like the Latin rite."

Beautiful little church as it is now! Why do you need more?

Many years ago, there was a Byzantine Rite Catholic church that was next to an office I was doing business with in Norridge, IL. Every time I visited that office, I kept saying to myself, "I have to see that church inside". Finally one day I went into the church, and it was gorgeous! It was a combination of ultra-modern and Byzantine, and it was absolutely stunning -- amazing to me, as I didn't think that these styles could be combined and done well, let alone as magnificently as this was done. Really awesome.