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The exhibition of the treasures of Mount Athos

                                        

                                         Poster for ECCM exhibition in Patras 2006:

                                         "Twenty years of ECoC history"

                                         Curator: Spyros Mercouris

 

Thessaloniki hosted the Exhibition of Treasures of the Holy Mountain for five months at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in 1997

The Mt. Athos Exhibition was deemed to be the most important social, scientific and cultural event in 1997. By bringing a part of this extraordinary living monument of Cristian Orthodox monasticism to Thessaloniki, that treasure was made accessible especially to those who are otherwise prevented and prohibited from visiting the Holy Mountain, in particular women. This unprecedented event gave an insight into the Christian Orthodox cultural and religious life.

The Treasures of Mt. Athos was displayed in sixteen halls of the Thessaloniki Museum of Byzantine Culture, and comprised a total area of 1,600 m and consisted of four subject units:

The unspoilt environment of Mt. Athos, one of the four subjects covered by the Exhibition, is unique in natural beauty. The first anchorites chose the site because of its isolation, away from the main East and West crowded routes.


The flora and fauna on the Mountain have retained a purity throughout the centuries, mainly due to remaining untouched by "irresponsible exploitation and other wilful human intrusions."

In the shelter of the Holy Mountain, the work of exceptional craftsmen has ensured the vital functioning of everyday life and made possible the ongoing worship of the communities. The original fortifications became the boundaries of the subsequent complex monastic establishments.

Athonite architecture comprised another part of the exhibition and demonstrated how this style gave structural and aesthetic solutions to the monastic requirements.

The part of the exhibition depicting monastic life as experienced in the Athonite environment included the monk’s worship, study and prayer in the main church (katholikon), in his monastic dwellings in a skete (small monastic village) and kellion (a single building contain a small chapel and land). Shown were as well written documents about customs and rules of conduct.

Mt Athos preserves paintings of monumental art covering an area of approx. 100,000 m2, and includes more than 15,000 portable icons. There exists a collection of 14,000 manuscripts (some of which are illuminated), numerous artifacts, embroidered fabrics, wood and stone carvings, seals, pottery, hymnals and other antiquarian book and documents.

This timeless collection also includes utensils, religious vessels and vestments, workshop tools and equipment, furniture and other items, pertaining to the everyday life and worship of the Athonite monasteries and their dependencies.

Many specialists had worked on this Exhibition. It was an unprecedented attempt to present the 589 exhibits, covering the period from the 10th century to the present and representing the spiritual life and artistic creativity on Athos.

The final form of presentation was based on a detailed museological study in an effort to avoid the indifferent display of items. An attempt was made to recreate the austere monastic environment and present the items in this light. There were publish special editions to accompany the Exhibition, covering the whole range of subjects related to it, which may eventually become an invaluable source of reference.

The exhibition of Treasures of the Holy Mountain in Thessaloniki underlined the fact that Thessaloniki being the Cultural Capital of Europe in 1997 coincided with international interest in Byzantine civilization having been rekindled.

Source: http://www.hri.org/culture97/eng/h_polh_etoimazetai_5.html

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