ANNA VLADIMIROVNA ZDANOVICH
Teacher of the Faculty of Icon Painting, Moscow, Russia
She has been a teacher at the Icon Painting School at the Moscow Theological Academy. Teaching icon painting includes drawing, painting, composition, supervision of copy practices in museums, creative practices in the execution of iconography of ancient and new saints, designing an ensemble of icons, and writing diploma theses. She has decades of experience in painting icons for many monasteries and churches across the world.
DR. JYOTI SAHI
Freelance artist and writer, Art Ashram, Silvepura, Bangalore
He is the most important Catholic Christian artist alive today and has been called ‘the theologian with the brush’1. In addition to writing three books on art, theology, and culture, his prodigious oeuvre includes painting, carving, wood-block printing, and architecture, having also designed numerous chapels and churches. He founded an Art Ashram in 1972. Jyoti has also taught at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology since 1979. Jyoti Studied art and design at the Camberwell school of arts and crafts in London and received a Doctorate in Divinity from the Senate of Serampore.
LUCY D'SOUZA-KRONE
Freelance artist
Lucy D'Souza-Krone is an Indian painter, born in Goa . She became known for her hunger cloth painting, Biblical Female Figures – Guide to the Kingdom of God , which was published by the Episcopal Relief Organization Misereor in 1990 and exhibited by numerous parishes at home and abroad. In 1983 she joined INSCAPE (Indian School of Art for Peace), an Ashram which was founded by Dr. Jyoti Sahi. In 1996 she got married and has since then been living in Germany with her husband ever since. She is invited to exhibitions and workshops and workshops in many countries around the world.
PROF. DR. H.C. GUDRUN LÖWNER
German Lutheran Pastor and Indian Christian Art Historian
She worked as an Embassy chaplain in Delhi from 1998-2007 and after teaching at Wuppertal Theological Seminary in Germany Intercultural theology returned to India, Bangalore. Her special interest is Indian Christian art and architecture as well as Buddhism, in particular Ambedkar Buddhism. She wrote a book on Christian Indian art with the Jesuit Anand Amaladass: Christian Themes in Indian art from the Mogul times till today and Intercultural Dialogue in Art and Religion. The German Government honoured her with the Cross of merit for her bridgebuilding work between India and Germany in various areas.
PROF. DR PAULACHAN KOCHAPPILLY, CMI
Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bengaluru
He holds a doctorate in Christian Ethics from Accademia Alfonsiana, Rome. Some of his published works, besides the edited volumes, include Celebrative Ethics: Ecological Issues in the Light of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana, Evangelisation as Celebration, Life in Christ: Eastern Perspectives on Christian Ethics, Spectrum of Ethical Imagination and Action, and Eastern Perspectives on Evangelisation: “that your joy may be complete”. He has published more than a hundred and fifty articles in journals and periodicals.
DR. SEBEESH JACOB, CMI
Liturgical Theologian | Religious ascetic | Icon Artist
He is a liturgical scholar and icon artist exploring the intersection of faith, art, and culture, with a focus on Christian expressions in India. An expert in Eastern iconography, he has worked across England, Germany, and India, bringing a global perspective to his scholarship and creative practice. Holding a doctorate from KU Leuven (October 2024), his research uncovers the symbolic language of Indian Christian art and worship. As an independent researcher and religious artist in the CMI congregation, he envisions a contemplative life where art and study enrich Christian worship and expression.
PROF. DR. BRIAN BUTCHER
Adjunct Professor, Artist, Sportsperson
Dr. Butcher is currently Adjunct Professor, in McGill’s School of Religious Studies, as well as sessional lecturer at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto and Agora University (on-line). His serves as Advisor for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. For almost two decades, he has taught courses in theology, religious studies and the humanities, with a particular focus on the heritage of the Orthodox and Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches. His research interests include liturgy, sacred music, patristics and hermeneutics.His first major monograph has recently been published with Fordham University Press: Liturgical Theology After Schmemann: An Orthodox Reading of Paul Ricoeur.
ASHOK GIRI (ASH)
Multi-disciplinary artist
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Arts. After a successful career as an award-winning Creative Director at the world's top advertising agencies, he has returned to his craft of calligraphy & typography. He has received his Certificate of Proficiency in Engrosser's Script from IAMPETH, and has been invited to teach at IAMPETH Virtual for two consecutive years. Ash is a celebrated educator who teaches Engrossers, Gothic, Uncial & Ruling pen scripts. Inspired by the philosophy of 'paying it forward,' he has a vision to revive this dying art form by making educational resources more accessible. This mission has seen him mentor over 10000 students across the globe so far.
HIS GRACE GEEVARGHESE MAR COORILOS METROPOLITAN
Diocese of Bombay, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
His grace was elected to the Episcopal rank in 1989 and was subsequently ordained in 1991. Soon, he was appointed as the Assistant Metropolitan, Mumbai Diocese. Masters in Arts , Bachelor of Divinity, PGD in Pastoral Theology and Mission, UK. President emeritus at NCCI.
DR. K. M. GEORGE
Principal Emeritus of the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam
Professor Emeritus at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Geneva, Moderator, WCC Programme Committee 1998-2006. Director of Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios Chair, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. Executive Secretary Emeritus of the National Council of Churches, New Delhi. Founder-director of the Sopana Orthodox Academy, Kottayam. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Divinity, Marsters of Theology, Belgium and Phd, Paris. Learned painting from the ‘Ecole de beaux arts’ fine arts school, Paris.
FR. ASWIN Z FERNANDIS
Secretary, Inter-Church Relation Department, MOSC
Official Iconographer, MOSC. Works as part of the Inter-Church department for close to two decades. Masters in Philosophy, Masters in Clinical Psychology, Post- graduate in Counselling Psychology, Iconography – Orthodox Academy of Crete, Greece, Cretan School of Iconography- Heraklion, Greece.
FR. RIJO GEEVARGHESE
Priest, Iconographer, Diocese of Ahmedabad, MOSC
Masters in Theology, Kottayam, Diploma in Sacred Arts, Egypt. Runs the Graphe YouTube channel, which creates videos on icons and the role of art in Orthodox liturgy. He also manages the blog projectgraphe.org, through which workshops on iconography and develop educational resources are propagated.
EVAN WILSON
Metal artist specializing in forged and chased iron, bronze and copper
In 2014, following three years of non-profit service in rural Afghanistan, Evan founded a non-profit blacksmithing shop offering dignified income opportunities to homeless men and women at Community First! Village, serving there until 2020. He now works with discerning collectors to embody their visions in meticulously hand-finished metalworks. Evan’s studio is located in Spicewood, Texas.
DR. K. L. MATHEW VAIDYAN
Member of the Working Committee, MOSC
Serving as the Principal of St. Paul’s Mission Training Center and St. Basil Bible School and Orientation Center, Kerala. Professor Emeritus OTS, Member of Orthodox - Lutheran Dialogue Committee. Member of Mission Board and Church Publication Committee. Author of more than 40 books and a great Orator. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Divinity, PGD in Theology, Leningrad, Russia, Master of Theology and Doctor of Divinity, USA.
SHERIN SUJITH VARGHESE
Director and COO, De’thri Foundation
Working as the Head of Eastern Theological Research at De’thri. Worked as a Teacher, Content writer, Blogger and Choir lead. Collaborated actively towards projects for MOSC in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Sri Lanka. Member of the Editorial Board for the English publications of Servants of the Cross. Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Computer Applications (Osmania University), Master of Divinity, AHOS, Greek Orthodox Antiochian Patriarchate.
SUJITH VARGHESE GEORGE
Director and CEO, De’thri Foundation & Drah’ma Consultancy Services
Working as Consultant for Cement and Mining Industry at Drah’ma. Head of Church History Research and Sustainable Development initiatives focusing on remote Tribal areas at De’thri. Worked as Global Business Head for After Market Business with MAAG Gears/ FLSmidth Pvt. Ltd.. Post Doctorate Research guide at Bonn University, Germany for Indian Subcontinent Church History. Bachelor of Engineering (Anna University), Master of Business Applications (London), Master of Divinity, AHOS, Greek Orthodox Antiochian Patriarchate.