The imaret (Turkish word meaning poorhouse or building complex including a mosque) of Komotini, which is of Islamic architecture, is a designated monument, which houses the Ecclesiastical Museum of the Holy Metropolis of Maroneia and Komotini. According to the traditions of the inhabitants of Komotini, there where the imaret was built was located the Byzantine church of Agia Sophia, upon which was integrated the construction of the building.  The imaret,...

Another successful church preservation on the island of Serifos, by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades. The holy church of Agios Eleftherios at Lempidi, in the capital of Serifos island, is considered a monument and archaeological site of Greece, by Ministerial Decision, already since 1972.  The decision concerning the preservation by professional restorers of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades led to two preservation phases: that of the icons and...

  The Christian and Byzantine Museum presents 50 representative works of painter Gregoris Balogiannis’ career, the man and artist who devoted his life to Byzantine and post-Byzantine painting.  The presentation is complemented by a documentary video about the life of the artist, directed by Christos Konstantopoulos. Gregoris Balogiannis was born in Grevena, was raised in an orphanage and graduated from the School of Fine Arts of Athens in 1963 with...

  Bethlehem, a small town of Palestine, was the place of birth of many great men mentioned in the Old Testament.  Perhaps the most important of all is David, the King of Israel. However, the name Bethlehem has been associated with Jesus Christ, because there was the cave that gave shelter to the Virgin Mary and the newborn infant.  The cave was known from the earliest years of Christianity. In...

Icons illustrate faith, talk about the faces and the scenes they depict and conceal dozens of symbolisms through the work of art of the icon painter. The icon of the birth of Jesus depicts the most important moment of Christendom.  The moment that God sends to the people His son, the one who has shouldered the enormous burden of developing a new conception, a new world, a world of love...

Dozens of icons that adorn the showcases but also the warehouses of the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Icons, religious relics, objects, clothes, documents, all carry their history which most often runs through the centuries. At the website of the museum one can see all the collections, even those located in the warehouses, allowing the scholar or anyone interested to discover the wealth of approximately 3,000 works with a variety of...

From the first icon of Luke the Evangelist to date, Orthodox icons constitute a form of art that expresses the strong connection between the faithful’s life with God. The icons, regardless of their size, style or market value, are regarded as the "means" of expressing faith and connecting with the Divine. Icons inspire, invigorate, remind, and protect. The Orthodox icons, wherever they are, small and kept in a drawer or big...

There are dozens of forms of address for the Virgin Mary and even more icons that depict her beloved image which symbolizes motherhood, protection, care, family, goodness and absolute and unnegotiable love. Each icon of the Virgin Mary, from the oldest and rarest to the most "humble", has its own emotional value. However, some icons of the Virgin Mary are inextricably linked to the Christian Orthodox tradition. Some of these...