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Icon Writing Workshop and Retreat 

March 14-17

Come to Heart Ridge this Lent and discover the beauty and meaning of Icons. 

We are incredibly privileged to have expert teacher and iconographer, Meijun Lu, to lead a weekend retreat where attendees will not only learn about icons, but will write and paint their own. Using authentic materials and supplies shipped from Europe, attendees will use this ancient technique to contemplate and pray while making an icon.

Byzantine-Russian Iconography is the oldest and only Christian art form survived unchanged for the past 2000 years.  Most icons painted and written are copies of these original icons.  These have served as "Windows into Heaven."

Through this submersive experience, you will feel this connection to heaven through the past.  

Making an Icon is itself a retreat. It will look something like this:
 
  • Before starting work, make the sign of the Cross; pray in silence and pardon your enemies.
  • Work with care on every detail of your icon, as if you were working in front of the Lord Himself.
  • During work, pray in order to strengthen yourself physically and spiritually; avoid all useless words, and keep silence.
  • Pray in particular to the Saint whose face you are painting. Keep your mind from distractions, and the Saint will be close to you.
  • When you choose a color or decide where to make a line, stretch out your hands interiorly to the Lord and ask His Counsel.
  • Do not be jealous of your neighbor’s work; his/her success is your success too.
  • When your icon is finished, thank God that His Mercy granted you the grace to paint the Holy Images.
  • Have your icon blessed. Be the first to pray before it.  Set it in a place of honor in your home.​​
Writing icons is a prayerful activity, yet very demanding, both physically and mentally. Retreatants will have to follow the instructions and finish the tasks on time so the instructor can continue to give the next task. However, because it is so demanding, many attendees can totally forget themselves and completely work/walk with the Holy Spirit.  In many case, we see when people return to their depth and meet God there, they receive the help from God to complete the impossible mission.   --Meijun Lu
Details: The retreat will begin Thursday evening at 7:00 with an introductory session.  Friday and Saturday will be a combination of working on your icon, demonstrations, breaks with the options of walking, studying, praying. Sunday will be the culmination of your work, staying as long as desired after lunch to finish.  

The retreat includes over 25 hours of instruction and all materials.
Comfortable lodging for 3 nights as well as 8 meals will be provided.  

Costs:  For the materials and expert individual instruction payable by check on arrival: $260 
It includes one 8x10 inch claybord panel(cradle), two professional brushes, plastic liquid pigment container, mixed pigments to share in the classroom, printed color pattern, and one carbon paper for tracing. 
For Lodging for 3 nights and 8 meals, $300 for a double room, $400 for a single room,  $120 for commuter (meals only), 
Space is limited to 12 so register early.  
Register Now

Information about our retreat instructor and some of her work:

Picture
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
  • Extensive experience in teaching and painting in Iconographic Arts in multiple cities of Taiwan and the United States
  • Extensive experience in leading Catholic retreats on St. Benedict spirituality/Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer
  • Extensive experience in publishing columns for catholic newspaper and magazine
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
07-08/23 Participated wall painting program at Orthodox church, Jeonju, South Korea
04-07/22? Received Iconographic Instruction from Dr. Sozos Yiannoudes, Greece
01/17-02/20 The founder of Pantocrator Iconographic Arts Institute, giving instructions in four cities of Taiwan
03/13-02/20 Columnist, Catholic Weekly, Witness Magazine F. Verbiest Foundation, Taiwan
06-07/19 Completed Iconographic Workshop directed by Dr. Sozos Yiannoudes, Greece
09/15-02/17 Completion of study from Fr. Jerome Chang, Iconographic Arts Institute , Seoul South Korea
09-11/10 Participated in the first stage of the icon painting program directed by Mary Katsilometes in Resurrection Catholic Church, Tualatin, OR.
08/06-05/08 Master degree, Monastic Study, School of Theology, St. John’s University, MN
07/06-10 Student at Summer School held by Mary Katsilometes and Kathy Sievers, Iconographic Arts Institute, Portland, OR.
09/87-07/92? Soochow University, Taiwan (BA in English Literature)
  • Home
  • Summer Family Camp
    • SummerInterns
  • Facility Rentals
    • Group Event and Retreat Info
    • Individuals & Small Groups >
      • Individual and Family Lodging Options
    • Lodging Descriptions
    • Day Use Only
    • Availability
  • Meal Service
  • Student Pricing
  • About Heart Ridge
    • About Us >
      • Glimpses Videos
      • Beginnings
      • Past Newsletters
    • Explore Nearby
  • Hiring
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  • SilentRetreats