On 8 November, Father Simon Smyth, accompanied by his wife Sheila returned once again to Moorlands Bible College to lecture on iconography.  A double session had been booked by Alistair McKitterick, Tutor and Lecturer in Biblical and Theological Studies, thus allowing plenty of time following the lecture for questions and discussion.  Why we kiss icons and what it means to kiss them; the distinction between worship of God and veneration of icons manifesting Christ our God; Christology; the goodness of creation and matter; prayer and spirituality were among a host of related topics considered. A number of these were helpfully and insightfully fielded by Sheila Smyth, displaying a female touch, and providing a useful contrast to Father Simon’s sometimes academic responses.  Further questions and discussions continued over an excellent dinner.

On Monday 14 March, in response to an invitation by Alistair McKitterick, Tutor and Lecturer in Biblical and Theological Studies, Father Simon gave an illustrated lecture on Ikons to students at Moorlands Bible College near Sopley in the New Forest. This was the third year he had been invited to lecture on this subject. The lecture included the theological justification and requirement for ikons as well as analyses of specific teaching points in various ikons. A good discussion with several students followed which widened beyond the specifics of ikonography to how we learn through participation in worship and being present in holy places.