Anastasis for Anastasia

A letter to Pennsylvania iconographer Britta Prinzivalli to commission an icon of the Resurrection for our engagement on 15 February 2026

Dear Britta,

Peace be with you. I am writing from Singapore to enquire on the possibility of commissioning a sacred icon from your studio. Having discerned the vocation of marriage, I intend to propose to my partner sometime next year, and wish to present to her a sacred icon to mark the occasion – a gift that will draw us both into deeper contemplation and love for Christ as we continue to walk on the journey towards marriage together.

I was born a cradle Catholic, and after many years of lukewarm faith, returned to the Church in my university years. My girlfriend, Ray, was raised a freethinker but completed RCIA and was received into the Catholic Church last Easter. In both our journeys, sacred art proved invaluable in mediating the mysteries of our faith and the heights of God’s vision for man. By quietly pondering scenes of salvation history, we experienced how God continues to break into the present moment of our lives. Through praying with the images of saints, we saw “face to face” the cloud of holy witnesses that intercede for us at all times. When we were distracted, the gaze of our Lord and Lady was enough to still our rambling hearts; when we were disturbed, the promise of His peace fell upon our faces in shimmering hues of gold. Mounted high on Cathedral walls or tucked deep into our wallet sleeves, every image we behold is a reminder that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.” It was this love for the Church’s iconographic tradition that led me to seek a commissioned work of sacred art.

In Singapore (where I come from!) our Catholic community is vibrant and alive, but relatively small and nascent. There are no iconographers that accept commissions. I thus searched for Catholic artists online, and having come across your website, was incredibly moved by your work. The aesthetic quality is clearly undeniable, but what struck me was the intensity of faith that shines in the way you talk about your profession and calling as an artist. In a world where what we call “art” is increasingly shaped by nihilistic and perverse ideologies, the works of those still devoted to God’s creative design offer a much-needed remedy, and are a timeless reminder that the only true measure of beauty is the Lord himself. They communicate the truth of our faith in a unique way, one that pulls directly at the heart of the believer, and attunes him to sacred realities that lay beyond his grasp.

For these reasons, I would like to gift my partner/fiancé an icon, that it may be a doorway for a greater encounter with the Lord, and an invitation to participate more dynamically in his life. In recent months, my partner has spoken often of the mandorlas that often appear in sacred images of Christ. She pointed out to me the meaning of the shape – the intersections of two worlds, human and divine, in the person that it frames. It is a wonderful detail that I had never before noticed, and an image that I have sought to pray with since. One can never meditate on the Incarnation enough. In this mystery, the depth of God’s love is fully on display: “For God so loved the world, that he sent his only Son…” Because of its significance to her and her journey of faith in via pulchritudinis, I would like to include this element in an icon of Christ, if possible. Of course, I am completely open to hearing your suggestions and advice on suitable designs and subjects, as this is also a learning experience for me.

I thank you for considering my request and look forward to hearing back from you soon.

In Christ,

Ryan Alexander Kho

Singapore

14 November 2025