Byzantine iconography project progresses at Presentation of the Theotokos Parish in Melbourne

The Parish of the Presentation of the Theotokos in North Balwyn, Melbourne, has completed the first stage of a major Byzantine iconography project for the ceiling vaults of its church, with the blessing and guidance of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

Two Byzantine-style icons depicting the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost have now been completed, adorning the areas above the solea and the Holy Altar.

The project has been entrusted to Andreas Boukas, an Australian-born Greek Orthodox iconographer who completed his theological studies at the St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney. He subsequently continued his training in Byzantine iconography on Mount Athos and in Thessaloniki.

On Wednesday, September 2, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne visited the parish to view the completed works and offer his spiritual support and guidance for the project.

The iconography program has been divided into four stages. The first stage was made possible through the support of longtime parish benefactors Spyros and Irene Alyssandratos. In 2020, Spyros Alyssandratos was nominated by parish priest Fr Nikolaos Georgiou to receive the Medal of the Order of the Philochristoi from…