Learn to paint the Mandylion, the Holy Face of Christ, using the traditional egg tempera technique. You’ll take home the icon you create, the fruit of many hours of focused work and prayer.
According to a tradition recorded by Eusebius, King Abgar of Edessa wrote to Jesus seeking healing from an incurable illness. In the account of Addaï, Abgar sent his painter Hannan to portray Jesus; after Jesus replied that he would send the disciple Thaddeus (Addaï) to heal Abgar, Hannan returned to Edessa with the image. This portrait became known as the Holy Face of Edessa and is the image tradition associated with the Mandylion.
The retreat fee is $1,200 for a single-bed room or $800 for commuters. Both options include meals and all materials and supplies, including a high-quality gessoed wooden board with a kovcheg (ark/recess), brushes, genuine gold leaf, pigments, and more.
No professional art training or prior icon-painting experience is needed—only a willingness to learn and immerse yourself in the ancient tradition of iconography.
