Andrew Tregubov

Archpriest Andrew Tregubov was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1951. Since his childhood he had been drawn to the images of ancient Christian art that he saw in museums and churches. As he grew older the mystical and philosophical aspects of Christian teaching revealed by this art became more and more the focus of his interest.

Andrew and his wife, Galina, immigrated to America in 1975, and the following year Andrew entered St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York). At St. Vladimir’s Seminary he had opportunity to study with such famous teachers as professor Serge Verhovskoy, Rev. John Meyendorff, and most especially Rev. Alexander Schmemann, an internationally renowned scholar and important leader of the Orthodox Church in America.

Studying the theory and history of iconography at St. Vladimir’s, Andrew began to convert his artistic skills into the practical work of painting icons. In the absence of reputable schools of iconography, he gathered knowledge of various techniques and styles from a number of well-known professional iconographers, especially Leonid Ouspensky, Maria Struve, and Elizabeth Osolin, all from Paris, France.

In 1979, Andrew was ordained to the priesthood of the Orthodox Church and was assigned to a parish in New Hampshire. The Nobel Prize winning Russian writer, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and his family became parishioners and close friends of Father Andrew and his wife, Galina. In the same year, on a trip to France, Father Andrew encountered the works of a genius 20th century iconographer, Monk Gregory Kroug. This very important personal discovery was a turning point in the development of Fr. Andrew’s individual iconographic style.

In 1984 Fr. Andrew and Galina received a grant from the Russian Social Fund of Solzhenitsyn to make a comparative study of ecclesiastical arts in the Orthodox communities in France and England. The result of this project was a unique collection of photographic transparencies made of the iconographic works of Gregory Kroug and a number of other contemporary masters of iconography.

Upon his return from Europe, Fr. Andrew began to lecture on iconography before such different audiences as church communities and universities around the US.

In 1990 Fr. Andrew wrote a book, The Light of Christ: Iconography of Gregory Kroug (ISBN 0881410969) published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.

Since the late 70s, in addition to being a parish priest, Fr. Andrew has worked as a professional iconographer, receiving commissions from individuals and church communities all over the US. His larger projects include St. Nicholas Church in Norwich, CT; St. Mary’s Church in Cincinnati, OH; All Saints of America Mission in Salisbury CT; New Skete monastic community in Cambridge, NY; St. Gregory’s Church in Wappingers Falls, NY; and St. Andrew’s Church in Delta, CO.

Father Andrew has also made a few mosaic icons in ancient Byzantine style, most notably for Christ the Savior Church in Pearl River, NY.

In 1995 he was awarded the New Hampshire Council on the Arts, Discovery Award.

Websites

 * Tregubov Studios
 * Article on St. John the Baptist