Photos: Paraskevi Spyropoulou

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, at noon, at the Cultural-Spiritual Center of the Holy Metropolis of Chalkida, the first iconography workshop for children was held, organized by the Catechetical School of the Metropolitan Church of St. Demetrios of Chalkida, in collaboration with the iconographer Ms. Dorothea Giannoukou and coordinated by the Center’s manager Ms. Paraskevi Spyropoulou.

The workshop was attended by all catechetical schools of the parishes of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Amarynthos, Annunciation of the Theotokos in Kanithos, Chalkida, Saints Peter and Paul in Chalkida, and the Church of Saint Eleousa, Chalkida.

The iconographer Ms. Dorothea Giannoukou, from the very beginning, managed to capture all the children’s attention and, in an accessible way, introduced them to the history and techniques of Byzantine painting, discussing with them the origins, spread, and survival of iconography to this day. She also showed and explained the stages of preparation and creation of a holy icon and guided the children in interacting with the materials available in the iconographer’s workshop. Particular enthusiasm and satisfaction were generated in all children by the creation of an icon of the Virgin Mary, which they painted while recalling the information they had received and following Ms. Giannoukou’s instructions.

The satisfaction of the participating catechists and children gives the organizers the desire to continue and offers our local Church hope for the cultivation of its young members.