Patrick Comerford
The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge is celebrating its silver jubilee this year and ‘25 years of Generous Orthodoxy.’ A special celebration of institute’s 25th anniversary is to take place in Cambridge on Saturday 30 November, marking the feast day of Saint Catherine, the patron of IOCS.
The institute announced the celebrations last week, and more details can be expected on the IOCS website and social media in the weeks to come.
I have been a student at the IOCS over the years, taking part in summer school and summer conference programmes at Sidney Sussex College between 2008 and 2016, and contributing to one of the institute’s videos.
The celebration on 30 November promises to be a day to reconnect with the institute, to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. The day will involve talks by distinguished friends of the IOCS – including the actor Sir David Suchet – a concert and a special dinner.
In the week leading up to the celebration day, IOCS is also running a five-day iconography course in Cambridge from Monday 25 to Friday 29 November 2024.
These two anniversary celebrations are opportunities to become an active part of strengthening IOCS ‘as a home for Generous Orthodoxy’.
The iconography course is taking place in the professional art studio at Westminster College on the corner of Madingley Road and Northampton Street, Cambridge. Westminster College is a resource centre for learning of the United Reformed Church (URC) and a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation. It is close to the Castle Mound, Kettle’s Yard and Magdalene College and is only a short stroll away from the Backs.
The five-day course, which was announced last week, The course will be led by Joseph Craveiro.
The course is designed to immerse students in the fundamental and advanced techniques of Byzantine Iconography. Participants will explore various aspects of ancient techniques, such as painting with egg tempera and gilding with gold leaf, culminating in a comprehensive understanding and practical application of this ancient art form.
At the end of the five-day course, students will finish their own icon of the face of Christ and receive a certificate from the institute recognising their efforts and completion of the course.
Further details about registration for both the celebration day on 30 November and the five-day course from 25 to 29 November will be available in the coming weeks.
As part of this year’s celebrations, IOCS co-organised an outreach day at Southwark Cathedral last month (3 August), held a fundraising day at Westminster Abbey earlier this summer (24 June), and commissioned a new icon of Christ the Teacher by the iconographer Aidan Hart, a Research Associate of IOCS.
The principal of IOCS, Father Dragos Herescu, recently met Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira – one of the trustees of the institute – to discuss avenues for closer co-operation and for the future development of IOCS.
IOCS is based at Wesley House on Jesus Lane, Cambridge, beside Jesus College and across the street from Westcott House. The wider mission and vision of IOCS is to provide a place for Orthodox education, research, and mission in Cambridge.
IOCS relies on the generosity of donors to support its work. This work is multi-layered, and donations are needed to support students, including bursaries for MA students and scholarships for PhD students, and for teaching, student supervision, research, sabbatical visiting fellowships and other events. Donors supporting existing or new academic positions at IOCS facilitate teaching and research and also strengthen Orthodox scholarship in Cambridge.
Westminster College, Cambridge … the venue for the IOCS course and anniversary celebrations in November
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