George Kordis - In the Joy of Cinnabar

In the Joy of Cinnabar is a richly conceived monograph dedicated to the iconography and painting of George Kordis, one of the most significant contemporary voices in Orthodox visual theology. Bringing together modern and classical works, the volume traces Kordis’s artistic journey with particular attention to his dynamic understanding of form, movement, and personhood in sacred art.

The collection opens with a Foreword by Bishop Maxim, situating Kordis’s work within the living tradition of Byzantine iconography while highlighting its bold dialogue with modernity. Five scholars (Annemarie Weyl Carr, Peter C. Bouteneff, Judith Wolfe, Justin Willson, and Niobe Kritikou) contribute original studies that explore the theological, aesthetic, and philosophical foundations of Kordis’s art, examining both his theoretical insights and his painterly practice.

Through essays and carefully curated visual material, In the Joy of Cinnabar reveals an iconography that is neither nostalgic nor experimental for its own sake, but deeply rooted in tradition while courageously attentive to the human face, space, and gesture. This monograph stands as both a scholarly contribution and a contemplative encounter, offering readers and viewers alike a renewed vision of sacred art as a living, joyful, and relational act.