Fragments of an icosn of the The Harrowing of Hell by Olga Shalamova
VERSIONE ITALIANA

EASTER 2025

Topics:
1. Greetings
2. Good News
3. Courses & Workshops
4. Exhibition

Christ Is Risen, This Means We Have Hope!

Dear Friend!,

In times like these, the present feels like an echo of the past. Once again, rulers wield power to subjugate nations, enslave the free, pass laws that serve their own ends, and silence those who dare to stand for truth. Nonetheless, we still are driven by hope.
Hope in the triumph of justice and goodness.
Hope in the coming victory of the Kingdom of Heaven over the kingdoms of this world.
Hope that strengthens us to live, to endure, and to press forward.
Let us hold on to this hope — and then, let come what may.
And a small but heartfelt word to those who bear responsibility and serve in official roles: *Be kind*. In daily life, we simply live—but when our lives begin to depend on someone else’s decisions, that life can become either dreadful, when duties are merely performed… or beautiful, when met with mercy.

Good News

Initial sketch for the Flight to Egypt by Philip Davydov We are happy to share a joyful piece of news: Philip has officially received his Armenian residence permit! This now allows us to apply for visas without having to return to Russia. Alleluia!
Armenia is a beautiful country—but, as in Georgia, we haven’t found work here. Despite reaching out to many people, we found nothing and made a decision to gradually transition to Italy. Over the next three months, we’ll be gathering documents to demonstrate our professional work and self-sufficiency, so we can apply for an Italian visa.

This is a thing we can not do on our own, so we warmly ask our students and friends who wouldn’t mind writing a short recommendation for us, - please reach out! It should be a simple document affirming that you know Philip Davydov and Olga Shalamova as professional iconographers with a consistent work history, capable of supporting themselves financially, would mean a lot. If you’d like a draft as a reference, we’d be happy to send one. While institutional letters are ideal, personal recommendations are also very welcome—especially as freelancers, we’re not expected to show only official credentials.

Our timeline is slow but steady, in step with our courses and ongoing work. We’ll need these letters by late July or early August, just before submitting our visa application to the Italian Embassy in Yerevan. After that—it’s about a four-month wait.

Workshops & Courses

Icon model for icon painting workshop in the New Skete In the meantime, we’re preparing for our upcoming trip to the U.S. to teach two in-person courses at New Skete (in English). The first workshop: Icon of Christ is for beginners. We will be painting an icon of Christ from a single model (boards provided). The second workshop is more advanced, focusing on synthesizing elements from multiple models. This time we’ll be teaching a gradual, organic shaping process—letting the image unfold naturally, step by step.
In ITALIAN:
Corso di approfondimento: Volti asimmetrici e a tre quarti. Seriate (BG) Italia, 19 - 27 Luglio 2025. Per tutti, insegnato in Italiano
Corso di Perfezionamento: Volti asimmetrici e a tre quarti. Seriate (BG) Italia, 19 - 27 Luglio 2025. Per professionisti, insegnato in Italiano.
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If you would likle to know about our Online courses,
check a special page .

A Glimpse of Hope in Seriate

Giornale di Arte Liturgica

Some weeks ago, Olga and I had the honor of virtually attending the opening of a beautiful iconography exhibition in Seriate, Italy. Titled *“Speranza” (Hope)*, the show was the culmination of months of research, practical exercises, and heartfelt labor by dozens of Italian iconographers, each invited to explore and express Hope through their work.

We were deeply moved by this initiative of the Scuola Iconografica di Seriate, which inspired artists to see their craft not as mere task execution, but as a creative and spiritual offering—born of contemplation and depth. You can read a brief report here: [Egli è la nostra Speranza – Mostra di Icone](https://scuolaseriate.eu/egli-e-la-nostra-speranza-mostra-di-icone/)

We hope such initiatives will continue to grow—encouraging iconographers to embrace their art as a thoughtful and vital contribution to the world, not just the fulfillment of commissions.

May our Risen Lord grant each of us the strength to face what lies ahead, the stamina to endure, and above all, the heart to stand with those in need.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Thank you for your invaluable support of all kinds!

Warmly,
Philip & Olga

P.S. If you missed our February Newsletter, it is here.
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