HE SHOWS HOW IT IS USED IN WORSHIP.
SEAN: HE CALLS THIS LITTLE CHURCH IN CLAREMONT HOME.
♪ ORIGINALLY FROM MOSCOW, HE HAS BEEN LEADING THE HOLY RESURRECTION PARISH FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.
WHEN HIS DUTIES ARE COMPLETE, HE RETREATS TO HIS STUDIO WHERE HE USES HIS PAINTBRUSHES TO BRING CHRISTIAN ICONS TO LIFE.
>> THIS IS THE RECTORY.
THIS USED TO BE A PARLOR OVER THE FAMILY HOUSE.
THAT WAS THE OFFICE OF THE PRIEST BEFORE ME.
I CONVERTED THAT MY WORK ROOM.
THIS IS MY STUDIO.
THIS IS PART OF THE COMMISSION I AM WORKING ON FOR THE CHURCH.
OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO.
SEAN: HE DOES NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF AN ARTIST.
>> NOT REALLY.
I AM AN ICON ON WERE FO -- ICONOGRAPHER.
THE GOAL OF ICONOGRAPHY IS TO MAKE THE LIVING PERSON OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS PRESENT.
SEAN: THE ORTHODOX PRIEST HAS NOT ALWAYS PAINTED ICONS.
HE BEGAN PAINTING AS A TEENAGER TO IMPRESS HIS WIFE.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL HE GREW OLDER THAT THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN ART BECAME HIS FOCUS.
>> I DO NOT EXPRESS MYSELF.
THE ICON IS BORN WITH THREE ACTIVE ELEMENTS.
WHAT ARE THE THREE AGENTS?
ONE, AND ICONOGRAPHER.
THE OTHER IS THE CHURCH BECAUSE IT IS NOT ORIGINAL WORK.
I LOOK AT MANY DIFFERENT MODELS.
THE THIRD IS OUR LORD HIMSELF.
THE PERSON WHO IS DEPICTED.
WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PAINT HIS ICON, HE REVEALS HIMSELF.
HE REVEALS HIMSELF TO ME.
BUT WITH ME, TO THE WHOLE CHURCH.
SEAN: HE PAINTS HIS ICONS USING EGG TEMPURA.
>> IN NEEDS TO BE DONE MINIMALLY.
IF YOU TAKE ACRYLIC PAINT AND YOU TRY TO A RACE ALL THESE INVENTIONS, IT IS THE MOST SIMPLE BINDER AND PIGMENT.
>> A GUILT -- EGG YOLK BREATH ES LIFE.
>> VERY RARELY DO YOU NEED TO HAVE PAINT THAT IS MORE PASTY.
THE REASON FOR THAT, IT IS VERY SIMPLE.
THE SPACE OF THE ICON HAS TO BE FILLED WITH LIGHT.
HAS TO BE TRANSPARENT.
ANY SERVICE THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENT IS AN OBSTACLE TO LIGHT.
IT DRIES QUICKLY.
YOU CAN GO OVER IT AGAIN.
YOU APPLY WASHES OR SEMI TRANSPARENT PAINT AND BUILD THE INTENSITY.
THE POINT IS TO BRING OUT THE LIVING PRESENCE OF THE PERSON FROM INSIDE.
IT IS ALL LIT UP FROM INSIDE.
SEAN: HIS GREATEST EXPENSE, THE BRUSHES.
>> IT IS AN ANIMAL THAT LIVES IN SIBERIA.
IT IS MADE FROM THE TAOILS OF TH MALE ANIMAL.
PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE TO BE DONE IN ONE PARTICULAR WAY.
THAT IS NOT TRUE.
MY WIFE WAS AN EMBROIDERER.
SHE USED FIBER ART TO CREATE ICONS.
YOU CAN USE BEESWAX, MOSAICS, YOU CAN DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SEAN: MANY OF THE ICONS THAT WELCOME YOU INTO THE HOLY RESURRECTION CHURCH ARE THE WORKER FATHER ANDREW.
WHEN A REGULAR PERSON LOOKS AT THEM, THEY SAY, THESE ARE WEIRD.
THEY ARE FLAT.
THEY DON’T HAVE SHADOWS.
EVEN THE FACES ARE KIND OF DISTORTED.
THE ICON IS DESIGNED TO DOES NOT -- DRAW YOU INTO THAT INTIMATE ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST.
THAT IS THE POINT.
THE HALOS, MANY ASSUME THERE IS ALL KINDS OF ORIENTAL MYTHOLOGY.
CHRISTIAN ICONOGRAPHY, IT IS VERY TECHNICAL.
IT IS THERE AS A MAGNET FOR YOUR EYES, FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
>> ICONS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ORTHODOX PARISHES.
>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THERE.
YOU WILL PROBABLY WILL GREET THE GUESTS.
THE REST OF THEM, THERE ARE MANY OF THEM.
YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY COME AND VENERATE SPECIFICALLY.
YOU SAY, HI.
YOU ARE THERE IN THAT ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND YOU ARE HAPPY.
YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE WHOM YOU LOVE.
THAT IS THE MAIN USE OF ICONOGRAPHY.
THE IMAGES WE MAKE ARE NOT DESIGNED TO CREATE AN IMPACT.
THEY WILL LEAVE YOU FRE