Home page News
Pope of Rome visits exhibition of Russian art…

Pope of Rome visits exhibition of Russian art masterpieces in Vatican

On November 27, 2018, Pope Francis of Rome visited the exhibition of outstanding works of Russian art from the collection of the Tretyakov State Gallery and a number of other museums in Russia. Held under the theme ‘Pilgrimage of Russian Art: From Dionysius to Malevich’ the exhibition is shown in the Vatican’s Braccio di Carlo Magno in St. Peter’s Square. It has become a response of Russian museums to the Roma Aeterna exhibition of masterpieces of Italian religious art, which was held with great success at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow in late 2016-early 2017.

Presented are 54 masterpieces of Russian art beginning from 15th-century icons to abstract painting of the 20th century. The works of art are arranged in such a way that old icons and 19-century realism masterpieces could ‘be in dialogue’ with each other on the basis of unexpected but obvious analogies. Thus the exposition shows that Russian art has been marked with the same cultural and spiritual constants through centuries.

A special place is given to ‘Crucifixion’ a great work of Russian iconography ‘by Dionysius (c. 1440-1502), a disciple of St. Andrew Rublev. Its exposition in the Vatican has become a sign of the Russian Orthodox Church’s gratitude for the brining of parts of the honorable relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which are kept in Bari, in 2017 to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

According to the Vatican press service, it was a private visit by Pope Francis; it lasted for 40 minutes. The head of the Roman Catholic Church was accompanied by Tretyakov Gallery Director, Zelfira Tregulova and Vatican Museums Director, Barbara Jatta.

Pope Francis evaluated as outstanding the presented Russian icons, especially Dionysius’s ‘Crucifixion’ and the 15-century icons by Novgorod masters. Among the works of Russian painters, he was most impressed by canvases made on religious topics by Repin, Ge, Ivanov, Kramskoy and others. The pope called the exhibition a unique and spiritually impressive exposition that has become ‘a phenomenon of world culture’.

It is noted in the Vatican that the Pope’s visit to the art exhibition not only reflects his love for Russian culture but has also become a gesture of friendship towards Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

DECR Communication Service

Photos from Vatican Press Service

and Internet sources

Share:
Congratulations of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the President of Turkey on his 70th birthday

26.02.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's condolences in connection with the murder of the monks of the Ziquala Abo Monastery in Ethiopia

24.02.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the XII Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

23.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch of Constantinople is not a free man

07.01.2024

Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’

06.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had phone conversation with Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

02.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over deadly earthquake in northwest China

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on his re-election as President of Egypt

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill welcomes the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the decoration of the Church of St Sava in Belgrade

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Patriarchal greetings on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria

26.11.2023

Primate of Russian Church presents historic miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the faithful and celebrates Liturgy in the Kremlin Dormition Cathedral

04.11.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the participants of the World Conference of Compatriots Living Abroad

01.11.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

31.10.2023

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب