North American Thebaid Photographic Pilgrimage Project begins 2-year expedition to photograph monasteries across USA and Canada
CINCINNATI, OH [Thebaid.org] — After over a year and a half of development and planning, a unique creative endeavor is set to begin actual travel and photography with the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos on September 8, 2016.
Director and photographer Ralph (Zosimas) Sidway reports that his plan for the Thebaid Project is to travel to Orthodox Christian monasteries across the USA and Canada over the next two years, creating fine art photographs of these holy places highlighting the worship, work, and life of the monks and nuns of the new “Thebaid” which is taking root here in North America. The plan calls for the finest of these images to be published in a coffee table book in late 2018.
The first two monasteries on the itinerary are Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery, South Canaan, PA, and the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, Ellwood City, PA. Scheduling is underway for October and November.
The Thebaid Project has a pan-Orthodox scope and seeks to include monastic communities from various Orthodox jurisdictions. Mr. Sidway is well qualified to bring this project to fruition, with 40 years in professional and fine art photography, experience in web and print publishing, and faithful service to the Orthodox Church.
In between his stays at monasteries, Mr. Sidway plans to present the “work in progress” at Orthodox parishes and schools, hoping to plant seeds for future monastic vocations and helping expand the mission of the Orthodox Church in North America.
Mr. Sidway is a long-time member of Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit Church, Cincinnati, OH, where he has served as parish web servant since 2004. He has been developing this project since early 2015, and has the blessing of his parish rector, Archpriest Steven Kostoff.
The North American Thebaid Project is a registered Non-Profit Organization with several volunteer members, 501(c)(3) status pending, established with the Blessing of His Grace, Bishop Paul of Chicago and the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America.
Visit the Thebaid Project web site for more information.
