12. Fr. Thomas Loya

living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists Father Thomas J. Loya living Catholic artists

12.1

Fr. Thomas Loya

“Icons are in colors what the Scriptures are in words: witnesses to the Incarnation, the fact that God has come among us as a person whom we can

see, touch and hear, to offer us the new life and begin the new creation.” – 7th Ecumenical Council, Nicea, 787

1–800–895–6267 • Nelson Fine Art & Gifts • www.nelsongifts.com

12.2 Fr. Thomas Loya – Assorted

St. MarkWP–MS1A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS1B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS1D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS1H 18 x 24 130.00

St. MatthewWP–MS5A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS5B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS5D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS5F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS5H 18 x 24 130.00

Sts. Peter and PaulWP–MS4B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS4D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS4F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS4H 18 x 24 130.00

St. John & St. ProchorusWP–MS2A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS2B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS2D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS2F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS2H 18 x 24 130.00

St. LukeWP–MS9A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS9B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS9D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS9G 16 x 24 118.00

St. George & the DragonWP–MS14B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS14D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS14F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS14H 18 x 24 130.00

Sts. Joachim and AnneWP–MS6A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS6B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS6D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS6F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS6H 18 x 24 130.00

The CrucifixionWP–MS10B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS10D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS10F 16 x 20 100.00

NativityWP–MS7A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS7B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS7D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS7G 16 x 24 118.00

www.nelsongifts.com • Nelson Fine Art & Gifts • 1–800–895–6267

12.3Fr. Thomas Loya – Assorted

St. John ChrysostomWP–MS15A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS15C 8 x 16 50.00 WP–MS15F 12 x 24 100.00

Christ the BridegroomWP–MS28A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS28B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS28D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS28G 16 x 24 118.00

St. MichaelWP–MS13A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS13B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS13D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS13H 18 x 24 130.00

The DormitionWP–MS8A 5 x 10 30.00 WP–MS8C 8 x 16 50.00 WP–MS8F 12 x 24 100.00

The Prophet ElijahWP–MS27A 5 x 10 30.00 WP–MS27C 8 x 16 50.00 WP–MS27F 12 x 24 100.00

Sts. Cyril & MethodiusWP–MS44A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS44B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS44D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS44F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS44H 18 x 24 130.00

Christ in the DesertWP–MS53A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS53B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS53A 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS53A 16 x 24 118.00

Christ the TeacherWP–MS12B 8 x 8 40.00 WP–MS12D 12 x 12 70.00 WP–MS12F 16 x 16 100.00



TransfigurationWP–MS29A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS29B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS29D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS29G 16 x 24 118.00

St. Basil the GreatWP–MS36A 5 x 10 30.00 WP–MS36C 8 x 16 50.00 WP–MS36F 12 x 24 100.00

St. AthanasiusWP–MS35A 5 x 10 30.00 WP–MS35C 8 x 16 50.00 WP–MS35F 12 x 24 100.00

The Holy PatriarchsWP–MS41B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS41D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS41F 16 x 20 100.00 WP–MS41H 18 x 24 130.00

The Baptism of ChristWP–MS39A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS39B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS39D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS39H 18 x 24 130.00

Confession of St. ThomasWP–MS34A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS34B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS34D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS34G 16 x 24 118.00

St. Gregory the TheologianWP–MS38A 5 x 10 30.00 WP–MS38C 8 x 16 50.00 WP–MS38F 12 x 24 100.00

PlayteraWP–MS11A 6 x 9 30.00 WP–MS11B 8 x 12 40.00 WP–MS11D 12 x 18 70.00 WP–MS11G 16 x 24 118.00

The Holy Eucharist (Detail)WP–MS58B 8 x 10 40.00 WP–MS58D 12 x 16 70.00 WP–MS58F 16 x 20 100.00

www.nelsongifts.com • Nelson Fine Art & Gifts • 1–800–895–6267

12.5Fr. Thomas Loya – Assorted

The Holy EucharistWP–MS57A 4¼ x 12 30.00 WP–MS57D 8½ x 24 82.00 WP–MS57H 12¾ x 36 180.00

The Harrowing of HellWP–MS43B 5 x 12 40.00 WP–MS43E 10 x 24 100.00

Desk Plaques and Magnets of Fr. Loya’s icons can be found on pages 20.16—20.31 in the Plaques & Magnets section.



Father Thomas J. Loya, STB, MA, is currently the pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Parish in Homer Glen, Illinois. He is also the host of “Light of the East” radio program, and speaks about Theology of the Body each week as a regular guest on Rel-evant Radio’s Morning Air pro-gram.

Fr. Loya is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and was ordained to the priesthood July 11, 1982. He is a celibate Byzantine Catholic priest of the Eparchy (Diocese) of Parma and comes from a long line of married Byzantine Catho-lic priests. Before entering the seminary, Fr. Loya earned a de-gree from the Cleveland Institute of Art and pursued a career in commercial art and design. He later completed his studies for the priesthood in both Pennsyl-vania and Rome, where he attended the North American College and earned an STB from the Angelicum University.

During his time in Rome, Father Loya was first exposed to Pope John Paul II’s monumental teaching on the human person when he attended his weekly audiences about the Theology of the Body. After his ordina-tion, Fr. Loya added to his Bachelor of Fine Arts by earning a Masters in Counseling and Human Services in 1993.

Fr. Loya has served the Church in youth and young adult ministry, as well as through his artistry and design consulting. He has directed many retreats and has been a guest speaker at several conventions, including World Youth Day 2002. Using his background in art, counseling,

and Eastern Catholic spirituality, Fr. Loya wrote all of the icons in Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Parish. Fr. Loya often

gives tours of his parish, teach-ing about the icons and referring to the iconographer, but never mentioning that it was he.

The History of the ParishIn October of 1993, Father Loya was assigned as pastor of St. Mary’s and the parish entered into a period of serious discern-ment about its future. It was this process of discernment that gave rise to a new parish, which would be located in Homer Township, Il-linois. Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Parish is the combination of three Chi-cago area parishes to propheti-

cally, creatively and courageously respond to the call of the Byzantine Catholic Church in the new Millennium.

The First Divine Liturgy in the new church was celebrated September 19, 1999. The parish is situated on 10 acres of land that has been kept or restored to its natural environment – a living land

that grows with the people who care for it and love it. The architecture

of Annunciation parish fea-tures the golden onion-shaped exterior domes and sweeping arches, characteristic motifs of Byzantine architecture. Domes and arches, which mark both the ex-terior and interior of the church, symbolize the meeting of Heaven and earth. The architectural

patterns accommodate Byzantine iconography, which adorns the interior of the church from floor to ceiling with “theology in color.”

Father Thomas J. Loya: About the Artist

Documents

12. Fr. Thomas Loya