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Draft:Silesian School of Iconography

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Silesian School of Iconography
Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna
AbbreviationSSI
FormationApril 24, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-04-24)
FounderDariusz Klejnowski-Różycki, Janina Różycka-Klejnowska
Founded atWellington, New Zealand
TypePublic Association of the Christian Faithful
Legal statusActive
PurposeEducation and formation of iconographers
HeadquartersSt. Anne’s Church, Zabrze
Location
  • Zabrze, Silesia, Poland
Region served
Poland
Official language
Polish
Rector
Dariusz Klejnowski-Różycki
Main organ
Senate of SSI (Deans of Faculties and the Rector)
AffiliationsUniversity of Opole, St. Joseph School of Icon Painting in Wadowice, Creative Actions Studio – Way of Icons in Warsaw and Poznań, Academy of Icon in Warsaw, Conference of Polish Iconographers and Icon Theologians
Websitessi.edu.pl

Silesian School of Iconography (pl. Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna, fr. École Iconographique de Silésie, chin. 西里西亞聖像畫學 Xilǐxiyà shèngxiànghuà xué, abbreviation: SSI) is a Public Association of the Christian Faithful in the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, erected by the Bishop of Gliwice. It includes people who write (paint) icons, theologians of icons, and creators of sacred art, both clergy and laity. The Silesian School of Iconography consists of 18 faculties operating within the dioceses of Gliwice, Opole, and Katowice. The school conducts regular classes, holiday workshops, and spiritual and artistic formation. It works closely with the Faculty of Theology at the University of Opole[1][2] and with similar institutions dedicated to iconography and sacred art in Poland[3]. The structure of the Silesian School of Iconography, as described in its Statute and Constitutions[4], is based on medieval university models and monastic communities. The primary mission of the Silesian School of Iconography is the multifaceted care of iconographers[5].

History

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The Silesian School of Iconography was founded in 2000 in response to the great interest in icons in Europe, the revival of reflection on sacred art, and the need for the Church to support iconographers. The founders of the School are Fr. Dariusz Klejnowski-Różycki (a student of Fr. Dr. Egon Sendler SJ, theologian, iconographer, pianist, sinologist) and his mother Janina Różycka-Klejnowska. The beginning of the Silesian School of Iconography is connected with Zabrze, from where it extended its influence to other towns in the Katowice metropolis.

The SSI has operated under three different statutes throughout its history, which have radically changed its structure (2001 – Wellington Statute; 2017 – Hong Kong Statute; 2020 – Avarua Statute), expanding its activities. It has educated approximately 3,000 students at various levels[6].

Activity

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The primary activity of the Silesian School of Iconography is conducting icon painting workshops, lectures, retreats[7], and catechesis, as well as providing broad mystagogical formation for its members[8]. Therefore, the Silesian School of Iconography is not an evangelization movement, as it welcomes individuals who are already evangelized and wish to deepen their relationship with Christ through mystagogy, prayer[9], and liturgical art.The workshops are primarily addressed to icon enthusiasts, Catholics, and Poles, but also to individuals of other nationalities, including Chinese, French, and Americans[10]. To achieve its objectives, the SSI has its own publishing house, organizes exhibitions, and collaborates with other centers. The deans of all faculties form the Senate and regularly meet to develop the School's strategy and engage in mutual formation. The Silesian School of Iconography is also a scientific and research community, conducting expertise for museums by examining icon collections, dating icons, and describing their technical and theological aspects. The School conducts numerous workshops, introducing the use of traditional, natural panel painting techniques, such as those used in the Middle Ages, with natural pigments, painting with wine, egg yolks, gold, etc. The School places a strong emphasis on the theological and spiritual formation of iconographers, not allowing individuals not associated with the Church to create icons. A characteristic feature of the School is the collaborative creation of icons: icons are created by several iconographers, not by a single person. This is an essential element of the formation process, so that faith is expressed through the community of the Church, rather than merely by individual taste.

Publishing House

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The Silesian School of Iconography has its own publishing house, where it publishes books dedicated to the theology of icons, the spirituality of iconographers, the theology of art, and other topics related to the formation of church art iconographers. The publishing house of the Silesian School of Iconography also collaborates with other publishers, often releasing joint works. The most renowned work published by the Silesian School of Iconography within iconographic circles is the "Iconographic Ritual,"[11] which compiles prayers from various Christian traditions during the creation of icons. It also includes a collection of liturgical prayers for the consecration and blessing of icons by a priest.

Scientific Council

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The proper functioning of the Silesian School of Iconography is overseen by the Scientific Council, which includes authorities from the academic and iconographic worlds, comprising professors, priests, bishops, and laypeople. The composition of the SSI Scientific Council is as follows:

  1. Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Janusz Maria Czerski (University of Opole)
  2. Prof. Dr. Hab. Karol Klauza (John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin)
  3. Fr. Prof. UO Dr. Hab. Dariusz Klejnowski-Różycki (University of Opole)
  4. Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Jan Kochel (University of Opole)
  5. Mgr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Jan Kopiec (University of Opole, Senior Bishop of the Diocese of Gliwice)
  6. Fr. Dr. Trojan Marchwiak (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań)
  7. Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Andrzej Perzyński (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw)
  8. Janina Różycka-Klejnowska (Silesian School of Iconography)
  9. Fr. Dr. Artur Sepioło (Diocesan Coordinator of Catholic Movements, Communities, and Associations of the Diocese of Gliwice)
  10. Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Jerzy Szymik (University of Silesia)
  11. Fr. Dr. Robert Urbańczyk (Seminary of Opole)
  12. Fr. Prof. Dr. Hab. Kazimierz Marek Wolsza (University of Opole)

Faculties

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Structurally, the Silesian School of Iconography reproduces the medieval university model and consists of several faculties, each headed by a dean. Individual faculties have their own names and enjoy considerable autonomy, both structurally and financially, making the structure of SSI resemble a federation. The entire school is headed by a rector, who is elected for a five-year term, with the possibility of re-election. Faculties that cease to function form a group of "Historical Faculties" with the possibility of reactivation under certain conditions.

As of 2024, the Silesian School of Iconography consisted of the following faculties (the names of the deans or coordinators of the respective faculties are given in parentheses):

  1. Rectorate of the Silesian School of Iconography (Dariusz Klejnowski-Różycki)
  2. Historical Faculty of Iconography "Holy Trinity" in Zabrze (Janina Różycka-Klejnowska)
  3. Historical Faculty of Iconography and Graphics "Who is like God?" in Bytom (Monika Jerominek)
  4. Faculty of Iconography "Symbol" in Gliwice (Jolanta Świątkiewicz)
  5. Faculty of Iconography "Light and Salvation" in Gliwice[12] (Zofia Metz)
  6. Faculty of Mosaic "Life-Giving Tree of the Holy Cross" in Gliwice (Piotr Sękowski)
  7. Faculty of Iconography "Spe salvi" in Pszów (Bogna Adamczyk)
  8. Faculty of Iconography "Mandylion" in Tarnowskie Góry Strzybnica[13] (Ewa Stępień)
  9. Faculty of Iconography "St. Brother Albert" in Wodzisław Śląski (Adam Kałuża)
  10. Faculty of Iconography "Anastasis" in Zabrze (Roman Prowda)
  11. Faculty of Iconography "Pantokrator" in Zabrze (Paweł Pilawski)
  12. Faculty of Iconography "All Saints" in Gliwice (Piotr Poborski)
  13. Faculty of Iconography "Kecharitomene" in Tychy (Natalia Binda-Kiszczak)
  14. Faculty of Iconography and Drawing "St. Ephrem the Syrian" in Kluczbork (Sebastian Szjada)
  15. Faculty of Iconography "Theotokos" in Prudnik-Kluczbork[14] (Stanisław Zioła)
  16. Faculty of Iconography "Ochra" in Woźniki (Lucyna Dyrdzik)
  17. Faculty of Iconography "Metamorphosis" in Gliwice (Krystian Kitowski)
  18. Faculty of Iconography in Bytom Sucha Góra "Ora et Labora" (Paweł Korlaga)
  19. Historical Faculty of Iconography in Racibórz (Marcin Kleszyk)
  20. Faculty of Iconography "Creatio continua" in Głuchołazy (Grzegorz Ptak)
  21. Faculty of Iconography of St. Teresa of Lisieux in Katowice (Adrian Kiszczak)

Collaboration

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The Silesian School of Iconography closely collaborates with other similar iconographic centers in Poland[15], especially with the St. Joseph School of Icon Painting in Wadowice, the Creative Actions Studio – Way of Icons in Warsaw and Poznań, the Academy of Icon in Warsaw, as well as with the Department of Fundamental, Dogmatic, and Ecumenical Theology of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Opole[16]. These institutions jointly created the Conference of Polish Iconographers and Icon Theologians in 2022, aimed at integrating the Polish iconographers' community.

Exhibitions

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The Silesian School of Iconography organizes icon exhibitions[17], not only in museums but also in libraries[18][19], churches, and public spaces, focusing more on creating icons for liturgical spaces rather than museums. Many icons are in private collections, but also in public places, in churches[20], as well as the School creates peregrination icons[21].

Media

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The Silesian School of Iconography is present in the media not only through its website but also through discussion groups that gather thousands of members. In 2022, the Silesian School of Iconography, together with the St. Joseph School of Icon Painting in Wadowice, formed a discussion group on Facebook as part of the Conference of Polish Iconographers and Icon Theologians, where thousands of Polish and foreign iconographers meet. Furthermore, the publications of SSI members are consistently present in Polish-language media[22].

Controversies

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Members of the Silesian School of Iconography participate in discussions held during various conferences organized for the Polish iconographic community[23][24], as well as on online forums and social media. The published material indicates that the discussions revolve around four questions and thematic groups:

Firstly, to what extent is the icon an Orthodox phenomenon, and to what extent does it belong to all Christians?[25]. This implies that every Christian denomination can shape the orthodox aesthetics, theology, and technique of the liturgical image in its own way, and the concept of the icon restricted to Orthodoxy is not valid[26]. The icon is as much Orthodox as it is Catholic and Protestant at the same time.

Secondly, to what extent can the icon be contemporary, subject to changes according to the sensibilities and aesthetics of our times, and to what extent must it be merely a reproduction of ancient patterns?[27]

Thirdly, to what extent should the Polish icon grant a special place to Orthodox believers, who constitute 0.9% of the faithful in Poland?[28][29]

Fourthly, does the concept of canon apply only to Rus'-Byzantine patterns?[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ Cwołek, Klaudia (14 Jan 2014). "Ikonopisarstwo i Wschód" (in Polish). No. 3/2014. Gość Niedzielny. Gość Opolski. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  2. ^ Kwaśnicka, Anna (19 Apr 2009). "Malowanie ikon jest modlitwą" (in Polish). No. 16/86. Gość Niedzielny. Gość Opolski. pp. VI–VII.
  3. ^ Klejnowski-Różycki, Dariusz (2018). Szawuot w ikonie. Pneumatologiczno-eklezjologiczna ikona Zesłania Ducha Świętego (in Polish). Zabrze: Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna. p. 203. ISBN 978-83-928584-8-5.
  4. ^ Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna (2022). Konstytucje (1 ed.). Zabrze: Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna. ISBN 978-83-953612-2-7.
  5. ^ Lazar, Jakub (29 Dec 2012). "Ksiądz, sinolog, pianista, rektor... - barwnie o Chrystusie. Ikony piszą". Głos Zabrza i Rudy Śląskiej. Zabrzańska Spółdzielnia Pracy Dziennikarzy. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  6. ^ Klejnowski-Różycki, Dariusz (2018). Szalosz regalim. Jezus Chrystus spełnieniem świąt pielgrzymkowych Izraela. Zabrze: Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna. p. 176. ISBN 978-83-928584-9-2.
  7. ^ Sękowski, Stefan (5 Feb 2015). "Rekolekcje z pędzlem". Gość Niedzielny. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  8. ^ Dębkowska, Katarzyna (2016). Współczesna recepcja kanonu ikony na przykładzie Studium Chrześcijańskiego Wschodu w Warszawie (in Polish). Warszawa: Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie. pp. 20–29. Retrieved 23 July 2024. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Cwołek, Klaudia (22 Aug 2013). "Modlą się i tworzą" (in Polish). No. 34/3013. Gość Niedzielny. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  10. ^ Macha, Dominika (8 Aug 2013). "Nie tylko ikony" (in Polish). Gość Niedzielny. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  11. ^ Rytuał ikonopisarski. Obrzędy poświęcenia ikon, modlitwy na poszczególnych etapach pisania ikony, ryty błogosławieństw ikonopisarzy. Instrumentum laboris (in Polish) (2 ed.). Zabrze: Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna. 2016. ISBN 978-83-928584-5-4.
  12. ^ Metz, Henryk. "Ikony Wydziału "Światło i Zbawienie" w kaplicy ośrodka rekolekcyjnego oo. Redemptorystów". Facebook. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  13. ^ Maniura, Jan (2 Jan 2014). "W blasku ikon" (in Polish). No. 1/2014. Gość Niedzielny. Gość Gliwicki. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  14. ^ Kwaśnicka, Anna (10 Apr 2014). "Na początek Pantokrator" (in Polish). No. 15/2014. Gość Niedzielny. Gość Opolski. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  15. ^ Różycka-Klejnowska, Janina; Klejnowski-Różycki, Dariusz (2011). "Szkoły ikonograficzne". Studium ikony (in Polish). Zabrze: Śląska Szkoła Ikonograficzna. pp. 104–115. ISBN 978-83-928584-1-6.
  16. ^ Podzielny, Janusz (2024). "Sprawozdanie z działalności Wydziału Teologicznego Uniwersytetu Opolskiego w roku akademickim 2022/2023". Studia Teologiczno-Historyczne Śląska Opolskiego (in Polish). 44 (1). Redakcja Wydawnictw Wydziału Teologicznego Uniwersytetu Opolskiego: 279. doi:10.25167/sth.5334. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  17. ^ Cwołek, Klaudia (6 Dec 2012). "Sztuka dla wiary" (in Polish). Gość Niedzielny. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  18. ^ Ka, Aga (5 Dec 2022). ""Pantokrator". Wystawa uczniów i nauczycieli Śląskiej Szkoły Ikonograficznej w Wodzisławiu Śląskim" (in Polish). Nowiny.pl. Nowiny.pl. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  19. ^ Suchanek, Krystyna (2 May 2024). "Przegląd Tygodnia" (in Polish). Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna im. Jerzego Fusieckiego w Zabrzu. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  20. ^ Fiutak, Maria (10 Jan 2020). "Każda Eucharystia jest doświadczeniem nawiedzenia" (in Polish). Gość Niedzielny. Gość Gliwicki. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  21. ^ Cwołek, Klaudia (10 Nov 2016). "Gotowa do drogi". Gość Niedzielny. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  22. ^ Klejnowski-Różycki, Dariusz (31 Oct 2023). "Ośrodki ikonograficzne i ikonografowie w Polsce". Teologia Polityczna. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Polish Iconographers Conference Opole 2022". YouTube (in Polish). Silesian Scholl of Iconography. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Polish Iconographers Conference Wadowice 2023". YouTube (in Polish). Silesian School of Iconography. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  25. ^ Klejnowski-Różycki, Dariusz (13 October 2019). "Współczesny renesans ikony. Szansa czy banalizacja orędzia?". YouTube (in Polish). Silesian School of Iconography. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  26. ^ Różycka-Klejnowska, Janina. "Ikona zawężona do pojęcia prawosławnego". Facebook. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  27. ^ Jerominek, Monika (7 April 2017). "Któż jak Bóg?". Regionalny Ośrodek Kultury Bielsko-Biała. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  28. ^ Gełdon, Anna (22 October 2022). "O Konferencji w Opolu". YouTube. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  29. ^ Kojło, Jan. "Mam pytanie..." Facebook. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  30. ^ Cyrek, Olga (2012). "Nowożytne ikony bizantyjskie i ruskie z symbolicznymi wizerunkami Jezusa Chrystusa. Kanon ikonograficzny i wyjaśnienie teologiczne" [Modern Byzantine and Russian Icons with Symbolic Images of Jesus Christ. An Explanation of Theology and Canon of Iconography]. Tarnowskie Studia Teologiczne (in Polish). XXXI/1: 21–45. doi:10.15633/tts.278. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  31. ^ Klejnowski-Różycki, Dariusz (10 September 2023). "Katolicki kanon soborowy". YouTube (in Polish). Silesian School of Iconography. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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