Introduction to Iconography

with Alla KirEyeva

Beginning Iconography: The Mandylion

Studio Workshop

This workshop took place over five sessions, 4 hours each, between October 18th, 2025 and January 31st, 2026, at Swinton’s Art Studio.

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About Alla

Alla was born and raised in Belarus. Upon arriving in Calgary in 2007, she joined All Saints Church (Russian Orthodox).

She began her studies in traditional Iconography at that parish with Alena Martynova in 2012. After Alena's death in 2013, the parish priest, Father Peter Shashkov, asked Alla to complete the icons that Alena had been working on at the time of her death. With the blessing of Archbishop Gabriel, Alla consented, and completed the icons the same year. Father Peter was very pleased with the work, and asked Alla to write an icon of St. John of Shanghai.

Alla continued her studies in Sacred Art at St. Mary's University until 2017, when she joined the Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta.

She continues to be mentored by Philip Davydov and Olga Shalamova, who reside in Georgia, Caucasus.