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October 5, 2006
VATICAN MOSAIC GIFTED TO HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Benefactors Ginnie and Leo Koulos recently gifted Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in San Francisco, CA, with a fine Byzantine mosaic icon
from the Vatican Museum, entitled “Madonna In Trono” (Madonna Enthroned). The mosaic and shrine, which houses the icon, were offered in loving
memory of Eva and Paul Koulos.
The mosaic was acquired in 1972 during a cultural trip to Europe, on which, the Koulos family was given a rare private tour of the Vatican
Museum. One of the stops on the tour was the Studio Del Mosaici, Sc. Della Rev. Fabrica Di S. Pietro (Congregation of the Fabrica of St.
Peter¹s Basilica). There, artisan monks are charged with preserving the artistic heritage of the Vatican and maintaining the precious mosaics
of St. Peter¹s Basilica. As well, these monks perpetuate the craft of mosaic iconography by creating works in the fine tradition of their
forebears.
Madonna In Trono was three years in the making and the last work of a pious monk from Venice, a cultural center significantly influenced by
the Byzantine tradition. This monk personally selected each of the glass tesserae, which include a number of semi- precious stones. The minute
size of the tesserae, executed in petite mosaic smalti, give brilliance to the icon¹s detail and expression in the faces of Christ and the
Virgin. Encased in a bed of slate and set in an exquisite Byzantine style gold decorated frame, the overall dimensions of the mosaic
are 23² in width and 35² in height.
This ecclesiastical treasure is prominently displayed in a niche in the Church¹s vestibule (narthex). A magnificent black lacquer shrine with
gold leaf trim and rich marble altar was constructed to enhance the beauty of the icon and to spiritually inspire the worshipping faithful.
A formal blessing and dedication of this icon will take place on November 29, 2006, the eve of the Feast of Saint Andrew, as a prelude to an
Ecumenical Doxology honoring the concurrent historic visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Constantinople. At that service His Eminence Metropolitan
Gerasimos of San Francisco will welcome SF Roman Catholic Archbishop George Niederauer to the magnificent Holy Trinity sanctuary.
“Madonna In Trono” finds a welcome home at Holy Trinity Church, surrounded by countless mosaics crafted over 40 years by the noted Mosaic
Iconographer Robert J. Andrews. Currently, Andrews, in conjunction with his studio in Multepuciano, Italy, is engaged in the monumental
task of completing “Christ the Pantocrator,” to be installed late next summer in the sanctuary’s 3,400 square foot dome. It is believed
that this work will portray the largest mosaic face of Christ in a dome in this hemisphere.
Holy Trinity is the oldest Greek Orthodox Church west of the Mississippi River and is home to the only Greek Orthodox Elementary Parochial
School in Northern California. To arrange for a group tour of the sanctuary please contact the Church Office (415.584.4747).
HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Fr. Michael Pappas, Ieratikos Proistamenos
999 Brotherhood Way
San Francisco, California 94132
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