2009 Restoration

8/8/2019 2009 Restoration

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St. NicholasRestorationBringing the Stars Back to aHistoric Missouri Landmark


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About this bookCreating Sacred Space is a tradition inByzantine Thought, architecture an art.This book documents the creative processbehind the 2009 restoration ofSt. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in

St. Louis, Missouri. Designed andrendered by artist Rip Kastaris and hisassistants, It was a personal vision of the

heavens, created for an entirecommunity of faithful. Collectively thecommunity chose to restore theirsanctuary and in the process theirspiritual and cultural heritage.


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St. Nicholas Church was erected in 1930and a work in progress until 1949 when

artisans finally finished all the interior

decor. The work was divided into two

major categories: Renaissance style

iconography and leaded glass windows

seen throughout the sanctuary.

In 1959 a two year expansion added a

community center and increased the sizeof the church by thirty percent. The two

story addition to the front of the church

provided a narthex and a choir loft

overlooking the sanctuary.

During the expansion the planners

decided to paint out the blue sky and

stars chosen by the original architect and

iconographer. They chose flat cream and

gold tones designed to divide the

vaulted ceiling into multiple panels.

Over the years the signs of age crept in as

the frescos cracked and wallpaper

peeled away the original beauty.

A Bit of Church History


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In 2007 an effort began to restore the church as part of a two campus expansion.

While plans for a new suburban Family Life Center were drawn, a simultaneousrestoration plan was envisioned to bring the historic St. Nicholas sanctuary back to its

original glory.

In 2009 artist Euripides Rip Kastaris, assisted by George Gleoumas and a small staff,

transformed the church. Bringing back the stars was only a small part of theatmosphere, colors, textures and lighting that were enhanced. The work went beyond

mere restoration, creating a new presentation of the heavens right here on earth.

2009 St. Nicholas Restoration


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Venetian plaster was chosen for thesurrounding walls of the narthex and

sanctuary as well as the choir loft. Having

actual marble dust and lime powder in

the plaster allows for artists to create a

stone finish. By drag-trowing multiple

applications of thin plaster coats, a

unique texture is established that

becomes the base. Paining soft streams

of color and tone was then applied tocreate a rich stone finish thorough out.

Red Earth and Blue Sky


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Creative Director and Artist for the project, Rip

Kastaris, shown here layering tones of transparent

color over the plaster previously applied.


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The Narthex, shown from several views, was completely transformed by the new colors and textures.


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George Gleoumas, the base painter andengineer for the project is applying gold

leaf through stencils to the side isles on

the east and west wings of the sanctuary.

A unique pattern of stars was established

for each area of the restoration, made

up of 4 and eight pointed stars. The four

pointed stars were based on the

cruciform to represent Christ and the

eight pointed stars represent the eighthday or the day outside of normal time.

This is the day of heaven, untouched by

the chronic tic of the clock or changes in

the seasons. Byzantine monasteries and

churches thorough out the world often

employ this eight pointed design in their

ceilings and lofty domes.

First Lights


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George Gleoumas applying an eight pointed star with gold leaf in the west side isle of the sanctuary.


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The vaulted ceilings were challenging tofit designs into because they were so high

up and bowed slightly on two ends. The

artists had to compensate by adding

incremental lengths of canvas and hard

board to make large designs fit properly.

Here George Gleoumas applies the

guidelines high above the choir loft that

will define the area of a mosaic borderand constellation of various sized stars.

The large medallion-like design was

made of over thirty pieces that all came

together as a focal point in the south

ceiling of the sanctuary.

Celestial Circles


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Above Rip Kastaris prepares the central star while Ben Shassere works on scaffolding to install pieces.


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Soft cloud formations were pained

through out the ceilings. Here we see

artist Rip Kastaris brushing cool tones and

colors high above the sanctuary floor.

Painting the Sky


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Slowly the transformation of the sky

began to take shape. Now the sense of

the heavens enveloped the choir loft,

seen here being sprayed by the artist.

Now the choir would really feel the glory

of singing high into the south end of thee

In theRealm of Angels


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The Sunday School children applied gold

leaf to canvas stars in class and were

then encouraged to write the names of

family loved ones on the back of the

canvas. This was a wonderful experience

and will be a memory the kids will have

forever.

Help from Little Angels


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Children from pre school age through

fifth grade made stars along with their

teachers. Everyone who made a star

also wrote names on the back to be

blessed by Fr. Doug Papulis blessed the

kids and their works of wonder.

Some day they will tell their own children

about the 2009 Restoration that included

their family names and handy work.


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Euripides Kastaris Iconographygallery.mac.com/ripkastaris

2009 Restoration

Documents