Lecturer in iconography at the school of Theological at the University of Athens, Greece
Academic achievement:
Greek, born in 1951 in Makrirrachi, Fthiotidas and grew up in Athens.
Studies in theology at the University of Athens, and at the Theological School of “The Timios Stavros” in Boston, gaining a Master of Theology, specializing in both theology and the aesthetics of Byzantine painting. In1991 Doctor of Theology at the School of theology at the University of Athens, and since 1993 a lecturer at the same university.
Parallel to the theoretical occupation with Byzantine iconography and painting, George Kordis currently teaches the art of icons. He teaches at AKTO (Athenian School of Art), at the Cultural Centre EIKONOYRGIA and mainly at the Department of Theology at the University of Athens. Visiting professor at the summer term of Yale University (Institute of Sacred Music) teaching “Glory on Earth – The art of icon painting”.
On the practice of iconography:
In the 1980s studies in the technique of Byzantine iconography at the side of the Cypriot iconographer, Father Symeon Symeou. Further lessons in painting technique at “The School of Arts of The Museum of Boston” in 1987-89. On returning to Athens in 1990 continued studies in painting and engraving under Fotis Mastichiadis.
Kordis has painted many portable icons, frescos in churches and holy places, both in Greece and abroad. The most important of which are:
Monastery of Doxiario at Agion Oros,
Monastery of Agion Anargyron Parnonos, in Lakonia,
Monastery of Analypseos in Boiotia,
Monastery of Mitros Igapimenou in Boiotia,
Monastery of St.John the Theologist in Souroti,
Monastery of Theoskepastis in Soho, Lagada,
St.George’s, Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon,
The Church of Annunciation in Beirut, Lebanon,
The Church of St.Nektarios in Aretaieion Hospital.
Publications:
«The reason of line in the portraits of Protaton, Agion Oros», Doma 10, Athens 1987, p.71-114.
«The Saint Trinity of Andrej Rublev: The historical elements and the being of the picture», Klironomia 20, Athens 1992, p.205-219.
«Fotis Kontoglou and the dynamics of our tradition in painting», in the collective work: «Fotis Kontoglou living in icons», Akritas publ., Athens 1995, p.295-309.
«My tall cypress». Special publication with engravings and drawings, Mimnermos publ., Athens 1996.
«Fotis Kontoglou and the study of hagiography». Addendum in the book of Fotis Kontoglou «To hagiographer Evangelos Mavrikakis», Armos publ., Athens 1997, p.109-145.
«The chromatic structure of the faces in the icons of Theofanis the Cretan. An aesthetic reading», Armos publ., Athens 1998, p.70 plus 16 color prints.
«The orthodoxe icon. Truth and artistic language», Synaxi 67, Athens 1998, p.56-70.
«In Rhythm. The ethos of line in the Byzantine painting», Armos publ., Athens 2000, p.141.
«Icons» 20 color tables and 8/pages inset, Armos publ., Athens 2000.
«Copper engravings», in the volume PAROYSSIA of the Holy Monastery Doheiarion, Agion Oros, 2001, p.431-439.
«The Portraits of Fagium and the Byzantine Icon», Armos publ., Athens 2001, p.104.
«The Consolation of Greek traditional painting», Armos publ., Athens 2001.
«Illuminated Faces. Iconographic reference to the Fathers of Filokalia». 25 miniatures, Armos publ., Athens 2001.
«Ierotypos. Iconology of Saint Fotios and the art in the after-iconoclasm period», Armos publ., Athens 2002.
«The Chamber of the Innocents. The unutterable beauty of the humiliated». 14 color prints and inset with essays, Armos publ., Athens 2004.
«The painting as mode. Four texts for the character of Greek traditional painting», Armos publ., Athens 2005.