The art of the icon is a functional art form, in other words, one that is called the create work that serves a community of people and their spiritual needs.

Christian ecclesiastic painting, a development of Greco-Roman civilization and its influences, grew throughout the centuries to create its own unique way of painting on the basis of the Church’s own experience. This style of painting has been mystically and quietly established as the appropriate style for the Church, without ever having been imposed as the only possible style by a rule or in connection with the dogmatic teaching of the Church.

The continuation of this way of painting, which is now known as Byzantine painting, presupposes a correct understanding of the principles of its system of painting as well as of the function of its various elements. The simple copying of old icons does not seem to constitute a sufficiently creative approach to iconography or to the continuation of the art of icons.

For this reason, we propose a different approach to the teaching of the art of iconography, which focuses on drawing and composition on the basis of analyses of icons from the past that make up the body of ecclesiastic painting.

Τα μαθήματα, που θα γίνονται διαδικτυακά, περιλαμβάνουν τρείς κύκλους εκκινώντας απο τα στοιχειώδη και στοχεύοντας στην ολοκληρωμένη σύνθεση εικόνων σχεδιαστικά και χρωματικά.
The beginners course includes theory lessons on the basic principles of the system of Byzantine painting. In addition, students learn how to draw faces and figures (standing, seated and in motion). Students also learn the technique of egg tempera painting with underpainting in order to paint an icon of their own, the bust of a saint.

In the advanced course, students are introduced to composition and learn to draw small compositions with a limited number of figures, and also paint a full figure or a small composition in egg tempera.

In the final course, students attempt to make their own icon on the basis of older icons, or to compose an original composition based on scripture or the lives of the saints. As their final project for graduation, students are examined at the end of the course by painting their own composition.

As Byzantine painting, the art of icons, is informed by its own principles, it can consequently can be taught and learned by anyone who loves icons and wishes to continue working in accordance with tradition.