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† David Christopher Bellville is an iconographer, priest, and pastoral psychotherapist. Writing icons since 1995 (the term "writing" refers to the notion of expressing Scripture or the Word
in images), his principle teachers have been Rebecca Taylor and Phillip Zimmerman. In January of 2000, Jim Thatcher of the Maine Times reviewed David’s work at an exhibit of 22 artists at the
Eastland Gallery. He wrote, “The icons — to my eye some of the most beautiful and definitely the most striking of the works here by † David Christopher Bellville...would alone be worth a visit
to this gallery.” † David has written icons for individuals and churches.
 As Vicar of the Church of the Good Samaritan he has
a small, private counseling practice as well as his vocation as an iconographer.
Iconography is a sacred art that involves prayer, meditation, and patience. Nourished by the spiritual reality to which it gives visual expression, most of the icons that † David Christopher has written
are based on ancient prototypes that represent scriptural and historical truths of the Judeo-Christian tradition. An icon has been described as a “window to the eternal,” a vehicle or means by which
people can make the vital connection with God’s grace and the heavenly host. Icons can take a week or more of full-time work to create.
A supplication is made to God during the creative process that the divine spirit will assist the iconographer to represent as faithfully as possible the grace and presence of God. The movement of the painting
process is from dark to light, expressing the light of God that comes into the world. Icons are used in prayer, worship and meditation at the Church of the Good Samaritan. Our retreats usually have icons
present. When people meditate with icons, they wait for God to communicate presence and truth through gazing at the icon. The icon is not something to be worshipped; it is a vehicle for prayer...a praying
with eyes wide open.
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