The Greek Who Painted the First Orthodox Church in the North Pole

Ioanna Zikakou | 24 December 2015
Greek icon painter Kostas Theodorou from Larissa Greece was invited to paint the first Orthodox church in the North Pole. He was commissioned to paint the church for the Greek Community in the distant and icy Alaska. However, the Greek painter did not stop there. His devotion and passion drove him to continue his work in a Russian community church and an Eskimo tribe Orthodox church.
The Greek Who Painted the First Orthodox Church in the North Pole

Theodorou spoke about his trip to the Greek radio station 104.9 FM.

His first trip to Alaska took place four years ago, when he responded to a TV appeal of the Greek Community. The local community members which number around 250 members made an appeal on TV for painters that could help them finish their church.

“There are Greek everywhere,” said Theodorou. He also added that he chose to travel on his own expense. “It felt patriotic and religious” he added.

In Alaska he was warmly welcomed by the Greeks, but also by the smaller Orthodox communities, such as Romanians, Bulgarians and Palestinians that attend the church. Theodorou noted that the Greek Diaspora functioned as a union bridge between different nationalities.

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