2026 Summer Level III Iconography Retreat

Registration Deadline:   May 26, 2026

June 22-27, 2026

Prerequisite: Completion of Level II

Ancient Art, Living Prayer

Bring your open heart

You’ve successfully completed Levels I and II, and now have foundational knowledge and experience to make decisions with guidance. Our Level III program is characterized by greater independence and self direction offered in a studio-style course.  Since Levels III and IV encourage more independence, this year these levels will share a classroom to allow for more interaction and learning by example.

You will be guided by professional iconographer Ania Kocurek-Williams in a quiet, contemplative environment, immersed in the ancient methods of the early Christian sacred arts to learn these new skills in painting Christ Pantocrator, the central icon in your home deisis altar:

  • Painting a bust figure of Christ which includes a garment and a book
  • How to paint and render the blessing hand
  • Drawing/decorating the gospel with inverse perspective
  • How to apply gold assist
  • More complicated garment highlighting
  • Decorative elements in gold

Our mission is to preserve and teach one of the world’s most ancient techniques of painting practiced liturgically since the first century using historic pigments made from natural earth and ground minerals sourced from Zecchi’s Colori Belle Arti in Florence, Italy.  Zecchi’s is in the location of a continuously operational pigment purveyor since the 1300s and supplies the Uffizi with the very same pigments we provide you, to conserve the world’s masterpieces.  Your supplies will conform to historical methods.

Level III students have the option to order and purchase professionally made icon boards for this course.

Join the Rhythms of Monastic Life

Your days will flow with the Abbey’s ancient rhythm of prayer, study, and community. Begin your day with morning prayer with the monks and Mass before class. The Abbey bells will guide you into pauses for midday and evening prayer. Delicious, healthful meals at the Guesthouse are shared in fellowship, and evenings offer enrichment programs — from learning how to “read” an icon, how a gessoed board is made to hearing monks speak about the deep connection between relics and icons. Afterward, you’re invited to return to the classroom for studio hours to work and pray while quiet chant plays in the background as the sun sets over the Abbey.

  • Sample Daily Schedule
  • 5:20 am – Vigils (optional)
  • 6:30 am – Lauds (optional)
  • 7:00 am – Breakfast
  • 8:00 am – Mass (optional)
  • 8:45 am – Class begins
  • 12:00 pm – Midday Prayer (optional)
  • 12:15 pm – Lunch
  • 1:30 pm – Class resumes
  • 3:00 pm – Break
  • 3:15 pm – Class resumes
  • 5:15 pm – Vespers (optional)
  • 6:00 pm – Dinner
  • 7:15 pm – Evening enrichment program (talks and demonstrations)
  • 8:00 pm – Open studio time (optional)

About the Guesthouse

The guesthouse offers an Adoration Chapel, library, and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating intentionally designed to showcase the beautiful views of the Abbey’s expansive natural environs. Take a “Stations of the Cross” walk and stop at each of the 14 wayside chapels carved in the Germanic tradition over one hundred years ago.

Click here to learn more by reading Mount Angel’s description of the guesthouse.

While our summer in June is typically temperate, if you require air conditioning, you may wish to choose Option C for Commuters which includes only instruction and meals because the guesthouse rooms are not air-conditioned. Common spaces are air-conditioned.  Commuters join us for all the meals, but are responsible for securing alternate housing locally.

Choose Either Residential or Commuter Package

PLEASE NOTE:  The Guesthouse chef can accommodate a variety of food sensitivities; gluten free options are always offered.  Please feel free to let us know your dietary restrictions in advance and we will do our very best to make your meals pleasurable.

Residential Package A – Single Occupancy

  1. Iconography Course instruction & activities from Monday evening to Saturday’s Icon Blessing.
  2. Guesthouse: offers a queen bed and private bath with shower in upscale, retreat-style lodging, with access to adoration chapel and library. (Please note, there is no in-room air conditioning.)
  3. Meal Plan (15 meals)
      • Monday:  Dinner
      • Tuesday – Friday:  Breakfast, lunch & dinner
      • Saturday:  Breakfast & lunch (dinner may be purchased separately for $25)

Residential Package B – Double Occupancy

  1. Iconography Course instruction & activities from Monday evening to Saturday’s Icon Blessing for two people.
  2. Guesthouse: offers a queen bed and private bath with shower in upscale, retreat style lodging, with access to adoration chapel and library. (Please note, there is no in-room air conditioning.)
  3. Meal Plan (15 meals) per person 
      • Monday:  Dinner
      • Tuesday – Friday:  Breakfast, lunch & dinner
      • Saturday:  Breakfast & lunch (dinner may be purchased separately for $25)

Commuter Package C –  You Secure Housing

  1. Iconography Course instruction & activities from Monday evening to Saturday’s Icon Blessing.
  2. Meal Plan (15 meals)
      • Monday:  Dinner
      • Tuesday – Friday:  Breakfast, lunch & dinner
      • Saturday:  Breakfast & lunch (dinner may be purchased separately for $25)
  3. ALTERNATE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR COMMUTERS:

2025 Iconography Students with Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B.

A Sacred Conclusion

At week’s end, we gather in the Abbey Church for a Blessing of the Icons by the Abbot, a moment of joy and reverence to celebrate your experience transforming the blank board to the sacred image. A farewell lunch follows, with guests warmly welcome to join in the celebration.

Whether you come seeking a new form of prayer, a creative way to deepen your faith, or simply a quiet retreat into beauty, this week will open a door into the living tradition of iconography, the oldest sacred art of the Christian East and West.

Every year our classes sell out around February.  To avoid disappointment, please register well in advance of the deadline.  

If the retreat is marked as full, please request to be added to the waiting list by emailing:  support@classicaliconography.org.

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