Born in Spring Valley, Illinois, in 1961, Paul Azkoul has painted icons for 13 years. In that time, he has decorated churches and countless icons for personal devotion. He began his formal training under Fr. Gregory of the Dormition Skete in Colorado. He continued his education under the iconographers of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, Mass. It was during this time that he came to admire the works of Photios Kontoglou and adopted his technique. Some of his works appear in the Monastery catalogue and are sold there.

Mr Azkoul's studio is in his St. Louis home, where he lives with his supportive and patient wife, Catherine, and their two young children; Aaron, named for the brother of Moses, the God-seer; and Irene, whose patroness is St. Irene Myrtidiotissa. He and his family attend St. Catherine of Sinai Greek Orthodox mission church where his father is the priest.