A new fresco of St. Panteleimon donated to St. Vladimir's Seminary by iconographer Kathryn Pritchett Gulov graces the atrium of the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building. The icon, modeled after a 12th century fresco in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon in the village of Nerezi, Macedonia, was offered to the Seminary as her way of saying "thank you."
In 2010 Kathryn earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from the University of Michigan. Over the summers of 2009, 2010, and 2011, she attended St. Vladimir's iconography workshops in Applied Iconology, learning the traditional egg tempera Russo-Byzantine method. Recognizing her talent, instructor Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko encouraged her to pursue deeper study in iconography and church arts. With the assistance and recommendations of Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, Kathryn entered the full time three-year program for iconographers at St. Tikhon's Orthodox University in Moscow, Russia.
"I am extremely grateful to the Seminary for having offered the summer iconography courses," Kathryn reflects. "I would not be where I am today without St. Vladimir's. Protodeacon Nazari helped prepare me for going to school in Russia, where I not only learned about writing an icon but also about the Russian culture and language."
Kathryn is finishing her third year at St. Tikhon's, studying monumental art: frescos, mosaics, and icons. "Apparently I am the first American to attend," she exclaims. "It is very humbling being surrounded by so many exceptionally talented and hard working artists. While here, I also met, fell in love with, and married my husband Pavel Gulov, who is in the same program."
Saint Tikhon's in Moscow and St. Vladimir's plan to collaborate significantly in the next few years. Last October during an extended trip to Russia, Fr. Chad Hatfield and Fr. John Behr met with members of St. Tikhon's faculty to discuss cooperation in the creation of an Institute of Sacred Arts, with the goal of enabling more talented students like Kathryn to excel in their chosen fields.
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