Greece: Patmos

Today we visited the small Dodecanese island of Patmos. It is where St. John is believed to have written the Book of Revelation in what is known as the Cave of the Apocalypse. The island is very pretty with gorgeous, wonderful views from the hills. It also not too touristy.

View of town

View of town

Harbor

Harbor

A rocky beach

A rocky beach

View from monastery

View from monastery

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Greece: Icon Workshop

Today, we visited an icon workshop. They make all the icons by hand, and they showed us all the many steps involved. First, they start with blocks of wood, the type of wood depending on the icon.

Wood base

Wood base

The wood is hand carved.

Hand carved wood

Hand carved wood

If the icon will have metal on it, the metal is then shaped into the desired form.

Silver plate

Silver plate

All painting is done on canvas, so the canvas is then stretched.

Stretching the canvas

Stretching the canvas

The foil is then added.

Supplies including foil and brush for foil

Supplies including foil and brush for foil

Bright powder pigments are used for the paint, and duck egg and vinegar are other ingredients.

Powder pigments

Powder pigments

Powder pigments

Powder pigments

The icon is then hand painted.

Hand painting

Hand painting

An example of a beautiful final product.

Finished icon

Finished icon