Calligraphy at St. Nina’s Monastery

“Handwritten letters touch the heart.” So said Jaki Svaren, one of the most prominent American calligraphy teachers of the twentieth century. And one could say more: that handwritten letters, more than any form of writing, materially trace hidden movements of the heart. They embody a meaning beyond words.

grinding stick ink fresh each time: a pause to prepare

Archimandrite Dionysios, the Elder and Spiritual Father of St. Nina’s Sisterhood and many other monastic communities worldwide, blessed one of St. Nina’s Sisters to learn calligraphy from her father, a master calligrapher.

writing with a steel nib on textured paper

Calligraphy is a traditional monastic craft, with many Saints having practiced it as their primary handiwork and obedience. And in spite of modern printing technologies, its significance has not diminished. The ease of digital printing makes handwritten marks even more precious.

Every piece from St. Nina’s Monastery Scriptorium is handwritten using traditional broad-edge pens, freshly-ground stick ink, & gouache colors, a culmination of years of training – tracing an ongoing spiritual and creative journey.

Prayer at Daybreak Manuscript Book № 23.3

$500.00

Handwritten, handbound book of St. Sophrony the Athonite’s ”Prayer at Daybreak,” translated into English under his supervision by his spiritual child Rosemary Edmonds.

Written in the Foundational Hand by one of St. Nina’s Sisters with steel pens, hand-ground Chinese stick ink, and red ochre gouache on Mohawk Superfine paper with pure gold accents.

Hand-bound by a friend of the Monastery. Cover is made of Zanders ”Elephant Hide,” a unique and very durable paper with natural marbling that was produced exclusively at the Zanders plant in Germany since the nineteenth century and only recently ceased being produced. Spine reinforcement is deep burgundy bookcloth.

7.125″×4.5″

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Prayer at Daybreak Manuscript Book № 23.4

$500.00

Handwritten, handbound book of St. Sophrony the Athonite’s ”Prayer at Daybreak,” translated into English under his supervision by his spiritual child Rosemary Edmonds.

Written in the Foundational Hand by one of St. Nina’s Sisters with steel pens, hand-ground Chinese stick ink, and red ochre gouache on fine ivory acid-free paper with pure gold accents.

Hand-bound by a friend of the Monastery. Cover is made of Zanders ”Elephant Hide,” a unique and very durable paper with natural marbling that was produced exclusively at the Zanders plant in Germany since the nineteenth century and only recently ceased being produced. Hand-marbled endpapers. Spine reinforcement is deep burgundy bookcloth.

5.5″×4.25″

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Prayer at Daybreak Manuscript Book № 22.5

$400.00

Handwritten, handbound book of St. Sophrony the Athonite’s ”Prayer at Daybreak,” translated into English under his supervision by his spiritual child Rosemary Edmonds.

Written in the Foundational Hand by one of St. Nina’s Sisters with steel pens, hand-ground Chinese stick ink, and flame red gouache (with a little spectrum yellow) on Southworth Ivory Laid paper.

Hand-bound by a friend of the Monastery. Cover is a hand-marbled paper with subtle metallic accents. Spine reinforcement is deep crimson bookcloth.

Note: this book was slightly creased in the mail between the Monastery and the bindery. The integrity of the book is not affected in any way.

5.5″×4.25″

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