Palestinian Christians learn iconography
The Bethlehem Icon Center is seeking to revive iconography that originated in Palestine, by offering classes for Palestinians and foreigners eager to learn this ancient Christian form of art.
BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Rosette Qaabar, a woman in her 50s from Beit Jala in northern Bethlehem, just attended her first of many courses that will allow her to get a diploma in iconography, which she had always been a fan of. This course is accredited by the British university of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, and it is one of many educational courses provided by the Bethlehem Icon Center.
Qaabar, along with four other women, have taken up the art of iconography after having learned the basic principles of this art.
By the end of the course, Qaabar wants to be able to paint her own icon, as well as one for each of her five children.
She told Al-Monitor, “Years ago, all my children immigrated to the United States but I could never leave my city. So I enrolled in the center for fun. I would spend my spare time here learning a beautiful, mystical art.”
