The Dancing Saints
The saints dance above and we dance below
90 SAINTS DANCE WITH US
A statement of faith for the ages
The Dancing Saints icon is a monumental, surprising and powerful statement of faith for the ages, created by artist Mark Dukes with the people of St. Gregory’s. It was completed in 2009.
The icon wraps around the entire church rotunda, showing 90 larger-than-life saints, four animals, stars, moons, suns, and a 12-foot tall dancing Christ leading the dance.
The saints range from traditional figures like King David, Teresa of Avila and Frances of Assisi to perhaps more surprising people like Malcolm X and Anne Frank. They represent musicians, artists, mathematicians, martyrs, scholars, mystics, lovers, prophets and sinners from all times and many faiths and backgrounds.
As the congregation dances around the altar, the saints dance above, proclaiming a sweeping, universal vision of God shining through human life. You can view close ups of every saint on our Flickr page.
CALLED TO THE WORK
Artist Mark Dukes
In 1998, then-co-rector Donald Schell talked with Mark Dukes about the vision for the dancing saints icon. Mark had just completed the icon of St. Gregory behind the seating area. Donald vividly remembers Mark telling him, “I believe I have an anointing to do that work.” For the next 10 years Mark worked to create the icons. Sometimes stopping while the church raised more money to complete it.
