The Parish of the Presentation of the Theotokos in North Balwyn, Melbourne, has completed the first stage of a major Byzantine iconography project for the ceiling vaults of its church, with the blessing and guidance of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
Two Byzantine-style icons depicting the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost have now been completed, adorning the areas above the solea and the Holy Altar.
The project has been entrusted to Andreas Boukas, an Australian-born Greek Orthodox iconographer who completed his theological studies at the St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney. He subsequently continued his training in Byzantine iconography on Mount Athos and in Thessaloniki.
On Wednesday, September 2, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne visited the parish to view the completed works and offer his spiritual support and guidance for the project.
The iconography program has been divided into four stages. The first stage was made possible through the support of longtime parish benefactors Spyros and Irene Alyssandratos. In 2020, Spyros Alyssandratos was nominated by parish priest Fr Nikolaos Georgiou to receive the Medal of the Order of the Philochristoi from Archbishop Makarios in recognition of his dedication and contribution to the parish.
Second stage to depict major feasts
With the first stage completed, work is now beginning on the second phase, which will decorate the two side ceiling vaults with scenes from major feasts of the Orthodox Church.
The right vault will depict the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Holy Theophany, while the left will feature the Deposition from the Cross and the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Once completed, the iconography is intended to transform the church’s walls and ceilings into a visual expression of the Gospel and the spiritual heritage of the Orthodox faith through the tradition of Byzantine sacred art.
The parish expressed its gratitude to Spyros and Irene Alyssandratos and their family for their continuing generosity and support, as well as to Boukas for the time, dedication and prayer devoted to the project.
It also thanked Konstantinos and Adam of Icon Scaffolds, who provided all the scaffolding required for the work free of charge.
