The Story of Christian Art as Iconography

Lecture Description: Christian Art has its roots in the practical needs of the Early Christians. But, once worship was made free, we see an explosion in the creation of colorful art in the form of “Iconography”, used to convey the Faith and also as an aid to worship. This still exists in the Christian East. But, what transpired in the Christian West to change Iconography back to just "Christian Art"? This presentation will be a historical overview of the development of Christian Art.

Speaker: Fr. Panayiotis Papagergiou
Date: February 4, 2020

Speaker Biography: Fr. Panayiotis Papagergiou, Ph.D., Protopresbyter
Fr. Panayiotis was born in Cyprus. After his military service he left for the U.S. where he studied Chemical Engineering in New York City at the City College. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering cum laude. He then continued his studies on a Graduate Research Scholarship at the University of Notre Dame where he completed his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.
He joined Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston in August 1984 in order to pursue theological studies, from where he graduated three years later with the degree Master of Divinity with High Distinction. Following that, he enrolled in the Early Christian Studies Program of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was awarded the Ph.D. degree in February of 1995 with a specialization in the history and theology of the Early Christian Church.

Fr. Panayiotis was ordained a deacon in 1988 and a presbyter (priest) a month later. In August of 2006 he and his family moved to Marietta, GA where he is currently serving as the presiding presbyter of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church of Marietta.

Fr. Panayiotis is a member of the International Association for Patristic Studies, the Orthodox Theological Society of America and the North American Patristic Society. He continues his research in the Early Christian period and has published several articles in international theological journals. He has presented research papers at the International Conferences on Patristic Studies at Oxford University (1991, 1995 and 1999) and other Patristic Conferences. He served on the teaching faculty of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem (September 1998 to July 2001), where he lectured twice a year on the theology and spirituality of Eastern Christianity.

Fr. Panayiotis serves as President of the Clergy Syndesmos of the Metropolis of Atlanta since July 2008 and has been on the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council since July 2010 and the Archdiocesan Council since July 2012.

Видео The Story of Christian Art as Iconography канала Aquinas Center