Diploma Defenses Of Graduates Of The Icon Painting Faculty Held At The Moscow Theological Academy

On June 24, the diploma defenses of graduates of the second level of study at the Icon Painting Faculty took place in the Great Hall of the Academy. 

During the year, fifth-year students paint a diploma icon: they search for models, perform sketches in tone and color, draw the image on the board, perform gilding of the background and halos depending on the task, and proceed directly to painting in color. To facilitate copying, students also visit museums to gather necessary material, as even high-quality reproductions cannot convey the full richness and complexity of color in an icon, its textural features, or provide a full understanding of the technical execution of a specific sample.

A total of thirteen graduates presented their works for defense:

Icons "St. Basil of Ryazan" by Anna Afonina and "Holy Royal Passion-Bearers" by Alexandra (Alesia) Smolyakova for the Alexander Nevsky Church in Ryazan (supervisor - teacher L.A. Gadalova);

Deacon doors "Tver Saints. Great Martyr George. Prophet Daniel in the Lions' Den" by Valentina Lemeshko and "Bosom of Abraham. Expulsion from Paradise. Three Holy Children in the Fiery Furnace" by Ekaterina Gashchuk for the Ascension Orshin Monastery in the Tver region (supervisor - teacher L.A. Gadalova);

Icon "Hieromartyr Andronicus" by Anastasia Shilina for St. Nicholas Church in Myshkin (supervisor - teacher L.A. Gadalova);

Icon "Saints Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives" by Anna Rykanova for the Boris and Gleb side-altar of St. Nicholas Church in Myshkin (supervisor - teacher N.E. Aldoshina);

Deacon doors "Archdeacon Stephen", "Archdeacon Lawrence" by Alexandra (Alina) Volokhova; icons "Great Martyr George with Scenes from His Life and Selected Saints" by Anna Kornilova and "Archangel Michael with His Deeds" by Valeria Solovey for the Michael the Archangel Church of the Yuriev Monastery near Veliky Novgorod (supervisor - teacher A.V. Zdanovich);

Deacon doors "The Wise Thief", "Daniel in the Lions' Den" by Fedor Krasmik (supervisor - teacher V.A. Ermilov);

"Yaroslavskaya" Icon of the Mother of God by Maxim Paunkov (supervisor - teacher P.V. Gromov).

Additionally, two diploma works from graduates of the facial embroidery department were presented this year: paired veils with images of the Savior (by Natalia Sukharnikova) and the "Kazanskaya" Mother of God (by Elena Krasmik). The supervisor was teacher N.V. Mokrushina.

After the graduates presented their diploma works, their supervisors read their reports, followed by reviews and opinions from other teachers. Wishes for their future creative paths were also expressed.

A.V. Stalnov, Head of the Icon Painting Department of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy, served as the Deputy Chairman of the certification commission, as in previous years.

Following the diploma defense, the commission and graduates gathered for a group photo.

MThA Press Office