2026 Fall Sacred Letters – Iconographic Calligraphy

Description

Description

SACRED LETTERS – ICONOGRAPHIC CALLIGRAPHY introduces students to the timeless art of traditional icon inscriptions—the sacred lettering that gives voice and identity to every icon. Whether you are an iconographer seeking to complete your own icons with confidence or simply have a love for historical calligraphy, this course provides a comprehensive foundation in the lettering traditions of the Christian East.

Students will learn to accurately form, space, and paint traditional iconographic inscriptions in Greek, Latin, and Church Slavonic (Cyrillic) while gaining an understanding of their historical and liturgical significance. Instruction emphasizes proper letter construction, brush control, rhythm, spacing, and composition so that inscriptions become an integrated and harmonious part of the icon rather than an afterthought.

Throughout the course, students will also study traditional Russian calligraphy, learning techniques that can be adapted to enhance icon inscriptions and decorative titles. Those interested in more elaborate historical lettering will be introduced to Vyaz, the beautiful ornamental script developed in medieval Russia, characterized by its elegant interwoven letterforms.

Our instructor, Alice Bolgova, is multilingual and professionally trained in Russian calligraphy. Drawing upon her formal studies in Russia, she has developed an extensive step-by-step instruction manual that guides students through each lesson with clear demonstrations, practice exercises, and reference materials.

What You’ll Learn

• Form traditional iconographic letterforms with proper proportion and rhythm.
• Paint inscriptions in Greek, Latin, and Church Slavonic (Cyrillic).
• Develop confident brush control for clean, elegant lettering.
• Understand traditional spacing, layout, and composition for icon inscriptions.
• Learn the principles of classic Russian calligraphy.
• Explore the decorative medieval Vyaz style for advanced lettering applications.
• Gain historical insight into the development and purpose of sacred inscriptions within the iconographic tradition.

Included with Tuition

Tuition includes a professionally prepared calligraphy practice notebook, a comprehensive step-by-step instruction manual, and personalized instruction throughout the eight-week course.

Prerequisite

None. This course is open to everyone. No previous iconography or calligraphy experience is required.

Class Format

This course meets on Saturday mornings and combines instructor demonstrations with guided practice and individualized feedback. Students will progressively build confidence through carefully sequenced exercises, allowing each lesson to reinforce the skills developed in previous weeks.

Instructor:  Meet Alice Bolgova

Meeting Dates:

• October 17, 24, 31
• November 7, 14, 21
• January 9, 16

Meeting Time:  This in-person class meets 8 Saturday mornings from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Please download the supply list here