"He has made everything beautiful in its time." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

We are told that before Michelangelo struck the marble block, he could 'see' David already inside. At Holy Trinity church our walls are bare, the beauty waiting to be revealed. We have seen depictions of the Garden of Eden, brilliant with color and life.

Every garden begins with bare ground. Every work of art begins as a block of stone, a blank canvas, a mound of clay. God as the Creator has made man to imitate the beauty of His handiwork, and to recognize it.

Precious few things enhance the worship experience like the presence of Holy Images. The church is the perfect place where the synergy of God and man occurs - both liturgically and visually. The icons serve to explain what is being chanted, sung, and prayed, and help us participate in the Divine life. Seeing healers and martyrs, kings and queens, the Lord and His angels - they help us understand what is good and perfect and beautiful about Christ, His life and His Church. A church adorned with the iconography of Holy Tradition exceeds the beauty of any forest, of any artwork. Like cultivated ground needs a seed to spring forth life, Holy Trinity's interior needs you to invest seeds in order to let the images flourish, beautifying our beloved parish.

About Our Iconographer

Elias was a skillful artisan before commencing his twelve year training as an apprentice of the traditional techniques of Byzantine Iconography. He has collaborated, consulted and trained with many fine artists and iconographers both in the States and abroad. Through the years, Elias has made extensive trips to all major sites for purposes of studying and pilgrimage: 'all corners' of Greece, Turkey, Italy and France and beyond.

Elias adheres to strict Orthodox Byzantine prototypes. While examining the traditional prototypes in study and prayer, he assimilates theis analysis into his icons and rendering it anew with exceptional beauty and warmth. The same may be said for genuine Byzantine masters of old, who while faithfully and respectfully reproducing their models, they infused their work with the individual ability of their enlightened talent.

The sensitive quality of Elias's work resonates with such renewed vitality it enables, enhances and engages its beholder. By means of his brush strokes he gives his icon compositions inner beauty and then embellishes their appearance with decorative characteristics which are wholly personal and sublime in inspiration.

Elias lives his faith and understands his ministry as an Orthodox Iconographer working in the United States. With the technique of a gifted servant, Elias hand paints portable icons for private devotion as well as large wall murals to suit the needs of the individual or community which he serves. Elias is a man of talent, integrity and devotion.

Due to a generous contribution made by Elias Damianakis, 100% of your tax deductible donation goes directly to the church's budget!

More information about Elias Damianakis can be found at his website: http://www.orthodoxiconography.com/.