Dear Fellow Iconographers: 
First, thanks to all of you who are bearing with my faulty web/blog process for these many months while I try to turn this ship around! You will notice a new format here – one which I hope will allow more readability and easier transfer of information, photos and links. As always, your comments and suggestions are appreciated.
The Icon Class I teach at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albany has evolved into a lovely group desiring to form the Saint Luke’s Guild of Iconography, whose initial main purpose is spreading the joy of icons throughout the world. Saint Luke, the physician and Gospel writer, is our patron Saint and we are reading Esther deWaal’s “Seeking God” The Rule of Saint Benedict, for spiritual inspiration in the formation of our community. There is an excellent Face Book page for the Guild, set up by Jennifer Richard-Morrow.
I will be teaching a new icon writing class for beginners at the Art Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY on Thursday afternoons beginning in March 2014.
For information about taking icon writing classes visit: iconwritingclasses.com or newchristianicons.com
We begin each class with prayer using an icon, and share a time of intercessory prayer for those who are ill and need healing. Currently myself and the students in the class have an exhibition “The Art of Devotion” at the Slate Valley Museum in Granville, New York, through the end of November. This show has attracted a lot of community attention and has been drawing people into the museum who hadn’t visited previously.
I have the honor of having my Christ in Glory Icon on the cover of the 2014 Missal for Oregon Catholic Press. So happy when more people get to experience the joy of icons!
I’d like to share some photos of the icon gilding workshop I took with Peter Murphy, from the UK. It was a superb class and I highly recommend it for next year. This is the water gilding method – not for the faint of heart!
The workshop was held in Fairfax, Virginia, organized by Veronica Royal.
“In all that he did in service of the Temple of God and in his effort to follow the law and the commands, Hezekia sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result he was very successful.” 2 Chronicles 31:21
Father, help us to please You in writing icons. We seek Your face and cherish Your Presence in the process of icon writing. Amen.
American Association of Iconographers 
Christina, Your tenacious energy is an inspiration! Thank you for bringing us all together in this time honored and demanding challenge. A 21st century blog that reaches out further to revive and educate through the language of iconography, a blessed tool in your hands!
Anna Contes
Thank you, Anna. I look forward to seeing your amazing icons progress and be experienced by those who need to see them. There are a couple of exhibition opportunities coming up and I hope at least one of your icons cane included.
I enjoyed very much reading this blog. Christine, I hope to be able to attend your icon writing classes in Woodstock when I am back at my NY house this Summer 2014. Thanks for sending the Christ entering Jerusalem Icon to my e-mail during Easter season. –Pat Kagan Tobias