Current News

Current News

Who can paint icons?

Who can paint icons?

7/31/2003 12:00:00 AM

We will try, by means of modern technologies and communications, to make it possible for all of you to get closer to the works of a contemporary icon-painter from Plovdiv, Yanko Kavrakov ? an artist who is ?blessed? to paint icons.
He is certain that only a person in harmony with himself and the world around is able to really paint an icon. In an interview to the Maritsa Newspaper he admits: ?While laying the gilt on the icon I stop breathing ? not to spoil the magic I create?. The artist says that he himself takes care of every detail in the process of creating an icon ? starting from the choice of wood, the processing of the wood until the final cover of the ready icon, so that it could be better preserved for longer times. Of course, he is not happy at all with the quality of the modern paints ? nothing to do with the old-times ones that the icon-painters created themselves?
According to him, negative emotions do matter since the icon painting is not only an art but a mystery as well? As all artists, Yanko Kavrakov also dislikes selling ? he prefers giving away his works. What is important for him is to be seen by more people. Therefore he has exhibited 20 of his icons at the Ethnographic Museum in the Old Town (photos of which exhibition you can see) ? a full harmony between image and place. The next work of the artist will be painting the church at the Drangovo village, together with his fellow-artist Roumen Tsvetkov.
This topic reminds us of an eminent Plovdiv icon-painter, Tsanko Lavrenov, who had always carried the words of the wise Solomon in his pocket notebook: ?Then I turned back and saw that under the sun none of the fast ones are initially attributed with swift running, none of the brave ? with any victory, none of the wise ? with any bread, none of the bright ? with any wealth, none of the skillful ? with any benevolence, but it is time and opportunity that help each and everyone of them??

 

Today is PAVLYOVDEN (ST. PAUL’s Day)
Name day of everyone named  Pavel, Pavlina, Polya.
Today is PETROVDEN (ST. PETER S Day)
Name day of everyone named Peter, Penka, Kamen, Pencho, Peyo, Pesho, Petrana, Petrana; also Assen, Assya, Apostol, Krum, Chavdar
Ivan Vazov (June 27, 1850 - September 22, 1921)
Ivan Vazov was a Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright. He was born in Sopot, a town situated in the Rose valley of Bulgaria.
World Drug Fighting Day
World Drug Fighting Day
6/26/2023 9:17:00 AM
It is better to treat drug addicted rather than punish them - that is the change in the legal system the Plovdiv "Mothers against Drugs" Association stands for.
Today is ENYOVDEN  (Midsummer Day)
Today is ENYOVDEN (Midsummer Day)
6/24/2023 9:00:00 AM
This ancient Bulgarian ritual is considered the turning point in the mythological calendar of the ancient people -a ritual connected to the summer Equinox, when the day is longest and...
Anniversary of the birth of Dr Obreiko Obreikov (1891 - 1969), the founder of the Plovdiv Fair
Born on June 17, 1891 in Plovdiv, Dr. Obreikov comes from an eminent Bulgarian Revival period family.
VIDOVDEN (Vido’s day) - June 15
VIDOVDEN (Vido’s day) - June 15
6/15/2023 9:00:00 AM
That day is the feast of the last one of the hail-men family - sometimes interpreted as a brother, Vido, sometimes as a syster - Vida.
ELISSEY feastday (Liseh’s Day; St.Eliseus) - June 14
The traditional feast of Eliseus (also called Ellisey, Lisseh, Lisso or Lissey) is one of the thunder-maker feasts, alongside with German and Bartholomew.
VARTOLOMEY (St Bartholomew’s Day) - June 11
The feast is called Vartolomey or also Varti-Lomi (in association of storm and hail).
ROUSSALSKA NEDELIA (Midsummer Week) - the week after Pentecost
It is the week from Spirits' Day until next Sunday, when healers called "kaloushari" visit people's homes. People believe that after their visit there will be only health.