THE TREE OF LIFE ICON

Welcoming a new icon, three years in the making

In November 2024 The Tree of Life Icon was installed and blessed above the front doors at St Gregory’s.

Iconographer and St Gregory’s rector, Paul Fromberg began working on the icon in 2021. At the center of the five panels is Christ enthroned within the Tree of Life, surrounded by the waters of life surging around it. The icon tells the story of God’s great love for all humanity and her healing welcome.

Around the tree are saints who have blessed St. Gregory’s Church since our founding—children, adults, and even a very good dog. These figures include the first members of St. Gregory’s, its founders, and others who played a vital role in building our church and expanding our ministries, capturing the story of St. Gregory’s.

The Tree or Life Icon, installed in the entryway or the church tells the story-both past and future-of St Gregory’s. It ls a story that we want to share with everyone who comes through our doors: the story of God’s friendship spreading out to hold all of creation. At the center of the icon is Christ enthroned upon the tree of life. In his hands he holds a book that invites everyone to come into the eternal, beloved community of God: “Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” Around the tree of life are saints who have blessed the church since our founding. These include our founders: Donald and Ellen Schell and Rick Fabian who are offering the Church of St Gregory of Christ.

Some of the figures represent specific individuals while others stand in for those who have blessed our community since our founding. From left to right the figures represent:

• Trans SF Giants fan
• Food Pantry palron
• Icon painter
• St Gregory’s deacon
• Trinity Billingslea (first child to serve communion at St. Gregory’s)
• Mary Swing (spouse of our founding bishop)
• Bill Swing (bishop at our founding)
• Young girl
• Frankie the dog (friend of Paul and Grant)
• Scott King (building committee chair)
• Man in the background
• Ellen Schell (co-founder)
• Donald Schell (co-founder)
• The Tree of Life
• Rick Fabian (co-founder)
• Bud and Gretchen Fabian (donors who made the building possible)
• John Goldman (architect of the building)
• Esther Kissling (beloved composer of the parish)
• Paul Robinson (St Gregory’s first member)
• Female priest in a cassock.
• Sanford Dole (music director, composer, pastor)
• Woman in the background
• Young boy with a drum
• Tween girl
• Baby
• Mother holding her child
• Mark Dukes (who painted the Heavenly Dancing Saints icon)

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life … and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations”

—Revelation 22·1-2