On Monday, December 1, the exhibition of icons which highlights the themes of Maidan and the Antiterrorist Operation was opened.
The iconic plein air, which lasted for a week in Kyiv,was visited by masters of Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and France, two of the painters came from Donetsk region. The purpose of the plein air exhibition co-organized by the Social Service Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyivan Patriarchate together with the Embassy and the Consulate General of Poland, was to present icons that reflect the developments of Maidan and the undeclared war in the East-South.
Attending the opening of the exhibition were representatives of other denominations, including Roman Catholic and Lutheran. Pastor Ralph Khaska remembered the developments of Maidanwherehe was also in the epicenter and noted the special role of the icons. Although the Lutheran Church has no special iconic tradition, he is attracted by them. Representatives of St Alexander Cathedral who received the wounded during the revolution also supported the exhibition.
The exhibition is held in the same room where the exhibition of the articles from the ATO zone is conducted by the National Museum of Military History of Ukraine. So the icons are neighboring with fragments of weapons, armor, personal belongings of soldiers such as a charred Gospel,rosaries, banners etc.
It should be noted that special guests of the exhibition received special gifts - the icons painted on the pavement of Maidan by Polish master Michal Ploski. He painted themin order to lay a special emphasis on their role in the revolution.
Minister of Culture Yevhen Nyschuk along with the Director of the Nationalities and Religions Department to the Ministry of Culture Andriy Yurash also visited the opening. The latter stressed that Ukraine has shown particular example and demonstrated its spirituality to the world: “Ukraine is the country that has always show an example to others, not with weapons but with culture and spirituality. And the events of last winter testified that the society works closely with religion when people gathered at Maidan. Such cooperation should continue and this exhibition is another example of this.”
The plein air exhibition of icons “Mercy in Icons” will run until 19 January. It is open seven days a week, from 10:00 to 18:00 in the exhibition hall of St. Andrew's Church (St. Andrew's Descent, 23). Entrance is free.