Anglican Centre exhibition on Reconciliation marks Christian Unity week

(Vatican Radio) Among the many local initiatives taking place in Rome to mark the January 18th to 25th week of prayer for Christian Unity is an exhibition of seven paintings exploring the theme of Reconciliation. The works are on display at the Anglican Centre, which this October marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation, following the first official meeting since the Reformation of a pope and an archbishop of Canterbury.

The artist, however, is neither Catholic, nor Anglican, but rather Greek Orthodox. Lefteris Olympios was born and raised on the divided island of Cyprus, representing his country at the 47th Venice biennale exhibition. Though all seven paintings are based on religious themes, Olympios told Philippa Hitchen he draws inspiration from many other different sources…

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Olympios says he doesn’t want to be labelled a religious artist, or a portrait or landscape artist, but rather he follows his instincts when he is touched by a particular subject matter.

His first religious work, based on the Deposition of Christ, was inspired by a memory of his grandmother taking him by the hand, as a young child, to visit the churches in Cyprus during Holy Week. He says he was particularly inspired by the Good Friday images of Jesus being taken down from the Cross and placed into the ground

Another favourite theme, he says, is that of the hospitality of Abraham, which he describes as a particularly ecumenical theme. After seeing a beautifully decorated 14th century red and gold icon in the Benaki museum in Athens, he began combing that theme with memories of his own mother showing hospitality to guests in their house in Cyprus

Olympios says that he chose the seven pieces of work for the Anglican Centre together with the curator, Rev. Dana English, to convey different messages around the themes of reconciliation and hope:

The Journey is based on the traditional icon of the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, combined with images of contemporary migrants fleeing from danger…

Veroniki is inspired by the image of the biblical Veronica holding a veil with Jesus’ face on it, influenced by personal memories of parents looking for their missing children…

The Messenger returns to the theme of the Deposition from the Cross but with an angel of hope in the background bringing a message of Resurrection and new life

Hospitality is another reworking of this favourite icon of Abraham and his wife Sarah welcoming the three visitors, to a table brimming with fish as an ancient symbol of Christian faith

Maria is inspired both by images of the Virgin Mary in Cyprus which are often covered by embroidered cloths, but also by the faces covered by burkas to symbolize the oppression of women

A Matter of Choice is based on the popular icon of St Helen and her son Constantine, who introduced religious tolerance in 313 AD, with a backdrop of Christian, Muslim and Jewish script

St Martin, shown with words of St Matthew’s Gospel behind him, is not a saint in the Orthodox tradition but a popular figure in the Protestant world and a patron of Utrecht in the Netherlands 

The exhibition will be on display at the Anglican Centre in Palazzo Doria Pamphilj until January 31st