One More Free Post: Stiklestad Update & Bishop Erik Varden's Desert Fathers Podcast

The three icons that I’m currently working on for the chapel at Stiklestad are starting to take shape. I am busy painting all three at the same time: Christ Pantocrator, Mary with the Child Jesus, and John the Baptist. It is not unlikely that they may be finished by Olsok (the Eve of St. Olav’s Day). There is probably, as the lawyers say, a preponderance of probability that this will be the case. As for the starry sky in the vault above the Pantocrator medallion, I believe I can start work on that while I’m at Stiklestad. It’s an open question whether this part of the assignment will be finished by Olsok, but we should never say never. There will be quite a few stars for me to paint!

I must get back to my labors, but I will leave you with this recommendation first. The bishop who has commissioned these works is Bp. Erik Varden of Trondheim. He is, as many of you know, a renowned spiritual writer and theologian, a Trappist monk and former abbot (in England), and many interviews and lectures he has given — most of them in English — can be found on YouTube. Of particular value, in my opinion, is his ongoing podcast series, “Desert Fathers in a Year.” You can find all the episodes he’s done so far here, and there will be many more to follow:

https://www.youtube.com/@DesertFathersinaYear

Here is the original announcement for the series:

https://www.youtube.com/@DesertFathersinaYear