The Icon project of St Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church
Bringing authentic Orthodox iconography
from Ancient Yaroslavl, Russia to Columbus.
Recollections from Fr. Daniel Rentel
[Click images for a gallery view]
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- These are original drawings envisioned by Nikolai. Some of his ideas were completed, others were not because they would not fit.
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- This is a pamphlet created to promote the completion… included are rough sketches of the Sacred Icon Project.
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- Excerpts from the original sketches of the project by Nikolai.
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- Nikolai’s assistant, a craftsman putting the final touches on the arches for the iconostasis.
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- The carpenter at work in the Yaroslavl studio
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- The creation of the royal doors done here by Sasha and his assistant at the studio in Yaroslavl.
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- Setting up the royal doors. An icon of the Lord’s Supper would later be written on the arched panel by Victor Morozov.
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- Victor Morozov’s Last Supper icon, later placed above the royal doors. This is a replica from a famous, ancient and miraculous Russian icon.
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- Victor in Yaroslavl writing a copy of a famous icon of the Mother of God. This was mounted later in the iconstasis
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- Fr Daniel, hard at work in Yaroslavl examining the craftsmanship. These are the arches built for the top of the Iconostasis… to create a sense of openness in the church, an idea by Fr. Daniel.
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- Sasha painting in caligraphy a Psalm in English (a foreign language for him). The lettering expands to the length of the church and upon both sides.
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- A sample of Sasha’s caligraphy
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- Working in his studio in Yaroslavl, Russia. This is the Annunciation mural, later hung ceiling high along with the 12 others.
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- Victor, Fr Daniel, Deacon George and Nikolai. Taken at the time of the consecration of St Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church.
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- At the time of the consecration of the new temple.
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- At Fr Daniel’s dinner table, sharing ideas with Nikolai through Kathie. A mix of pigeon Russian with Pigeon English.
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- A local newspaper article.
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- Nikolai, Victor, Phil & Kathie Schmoll.
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- More discussions at the dinner table. Nikolai with Kathie Schmoll. He commented that he could not get over (none of those from Russia could) his observations that a lot of Americans were living like farmers, peasants even living in individual houses. (They expected to see Americans living in cities, etc).
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- Taken at our first service and the founding of our church. The walls required stripping of lots of plaster to expose the brick. The entire congregation is present in this shot. A cross was created and signed by all present here before it was placed inside one of the walls.
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- An exciting day. The whole iconostasis came in pieces, 12 murals, the icons for the iconostasis. Having no idea of how and if all of this was going to arrive. Larry Kozobarich, brought a truck of his to get all of this from NY.
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- The truck pulled up and there were all kinds of people helping. We had to go back to Rickenbacker airport to obtain cleaarance through customs. We made arrangements to deliver from there.
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- Delivering icon murals
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- Protodeacon George of Yaroslavl (left), who was in the soviet military, got out of the military by singing in bars. The bishop heard about him, a man with a great voice, who asked to ordain him a deacon. Center is Metropolitan Theodosius, who came to conduct the consecration.
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- Katie, Fr Daniel, and Metropolitan Theodosius
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- Sasha, Fr Daniel, Protodeacon George and Nikolai
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- Victor Morozov
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- Sketch by Nikolai
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- A local gallery exhibitor who featured works by Nikolai
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- Candlemass: The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
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- The Holy Trinity
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- The Baptism of Our Lord
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- The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
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- The Annunciation
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- Fr Daniel holding a book from a Russian museum exhibition where some of the murals of St Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church were on display. “The Annunciation” mural is shown here on the left page.
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- Another icon mural shown here on the right page.
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- The iconostasis as it looks today.
Interior photos with iconography.
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- The iconostasis as it looks today.
The Winding Sheet
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- The winding sheet. It is completely embroidered. The lady who made it, Leah Gavrilov. came in first place in an all-Russian competition. Through her connections with Nikolai (the iconographer), she chose to hand-embroider it for us.
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- A close up photo of the embroidery. Hand-embroidered by Leah Gavrilov
