My Journey to Iconography

My journey began after I entered the Vita et Pax (Life and Peace) Benedictine monastery of sisters in Cockfosters, north London many years ago!

Our monastic Foundation belonged to the Olivetan Benedictine Order. Our founder, Abbot Constantine Bosschaerts, had joined way back in the early 20th century. His vision to work for Christian Unity was at the centre of his Benedictine calling and he therefore chose "Vita et Pax" (from St. Paul's letter Romans 8: 6: - "the Spirit gives life and peace") as the "motto", and title, of his Foundation. He was given land by the Belgium authorities on which to build his monastery. As he envisioned working towards Christian Unity, primarily between the Christian Churches of the East and West, a chapel for the Eastern rites was established as well as one for the Western, then Latin, rite.

There are 23 Eastern Catholic churches whose rites are very close to the liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox churches. While the Eastern Catholic churches accept the Pope as Head of the Church, they have more autonomy than the Roman Catholic church with which more British people are familiar. For example, some Eastern Catholic churches allow for a married priesthood. Because Abbot Constantine was highly reformist in his vision, a Vatican Two man, the Roman Catholic Church did not fully support his ecumenical plans. He was eventually told by the Church authorities to close the monastery of monks, but since the sisters were already established from an Olivetan Monastery in England, he could not close them.

After I entered the monastery of sisters in Cockfosters I was sent to see our sister community in Belgium. My Prioress in England asked the Prioress in Belgium if I could see the Byzantine Chapel. It was here that I attended the Eastern rite and, on seeing the icons, felt a very strong desire/calling to paint icons. Having entered the monastery at a youngish age, I was initially instructed to become a teacher and serve in the Order's Primary School. The focus of my teacher training college was art, drama and music, and it trained the aspiring teachers to a high standard. My own art tutor was keen for his students to have some kind of philosophical approach in their work and once asked me if I had ever thought of painting icons! However, I had to wait fifteen years before my other monastic commitments allowed me the time to return to Belgium to study for a few weeks under Sister Elizabeth, after which I undertook some further short courses in the U.K.

To jump some years ahead, I felt the need to establish contact between experienced, and student, iconographers. Out of this, our British Association of Iconographers was born.

I am still learning through the icon commissions that I receive, and I am glad that it is possible to run courses in this prayerful art form. I am discovering it is a joy to see those who continue to learn about, and paint, icons after attending my courses. We now have a small Icon Support Group at Turvey Abbey so we can come together one day a week in a "drop-in centre" to paint in a quiet atmosphere and encourage one another. In this prayerful art form, one never ceases to learn.

Contact: icons@turveyabbey.org.uk
Turvey Abbey: https://www.turveyabbey.org.uk/
British Association of Iconographers: https://www.bai.org.uk