Exhibition of Greek icons in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

The Greek Ambassador in Dublin, Mr George Alexandros Vallindas, and Mr Richard Gordon of Gordon Gallery at the opening of the exhibition of Greek icons in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

Patrick Comerford

An exhibition of contemporary Greek icons is taking lace in the crypt of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, all this week. Although the exhibition went on display on Monday, it was officially opened on Tuesday (6 May) by the Greek Ambassador in Dublin, Mr George Alexandros Vallindas.

The exhibition continues until Saturday (10 May) from 9.45 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. each day.

The exhibition has been organised by Richard Gordon and the Gordon Gallery, Derry, in collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and the Panhellenic Society of Iconographers.

The 40 icons on exhibit include icons written by Dimitris Kolioussis and other leading iconographers in Greece. They range in price from €2,730 to €50,000. This is a rare opportunity to see and buy icons written in the Byzantine tradition. Works like these have not been seen in Ireland since Gordon Galleries hosted an exhibition of icons written by Sister Aloysius McVeigh in Derry in 1993.

A richly-illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition. I was delighted to be asked to contribute an introduction to the spirituality of icons. Other contributors to the catalogue include Dr Margaret Mullett, Director of the Institute of Byzantine Studies, Queen’s University Belfast; Dr Lyn Rodley of the Institute of Byzantine Studies, QUB; Sister Aloysius McVeigh.

When the exhibition was in Derry in March, it was opened by Dr Victoria Solomonidis, Minister Counsellor (Cultural Affairs) at the Greek Embassy in London and Representative of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture.

For my thoughts on the exhibition in Derry visit: http://revpatrickcomerford.blogspot.com/2008/03/spirituality-of-icons.html

The Gordon Gallery is at: http://www.gordon-gallery.com/ (telephone: +44(0)28-7137-4044).

Canon Patrick Comerford is Director of Spiritual Formation, the Church of Ireland Theological College, Dublin